SSC Napoli of Italy striker, Victor Osimhen has received a strong ray of hope that he could be back in action as early as January 3, instead of the earlier announced ate of January 20, megasportsarena.com reports.
The initial report out of the club’s base in Naples had indicated that Osimhen could be back for the Italian Super Cup clash with Juventus on the 20thg of next month, but the latest update on his injury status has this Sunday as the next likely date for his return.
That would be a dramatic turnaround for the series of disappointing and alarming setbacks that have hit the former VfL Wolfsburg of Germany, Sporting Charleroi of Belgium and Lille Metropole of France youngster, since copping a shoulder dislocation while in action for Nigeria in November.
Since that injury at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone, during which he scored in a 4-4 draw, the 21-year-old has not played a single minute of football for club or country.
Osimhen’s last game for Napoli before the shoulder injury was on November 8, against Bologna in the Italian Serie A and he netted the winner in his side’s lone goal victory at Renato Dall’Ara, but he has since missed seven domestic top-flight games and four in the UEFA Europa League.
However, Football-Italia has now reported that Osimhen is in the final stage of his recovery from injury, adding that the Chile 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup gold medalist and top scorer is expected back in Naples on Wednesday from the hospital where he is receiving treatment in Belgium.
The report goes on to disclose that Osimhen, who is Napoli’s costliest signing ever, could make his much-expected return against Cagliari on January 3; considering that he has trained on his own without any complications during his recuperation in Belgium and looks ready for action.
That would also confirm Osimhen’s opportunity of facing five-time Ballon d’Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo when Napoli face Juventus in the Italian Super Cup on January 20, which would make up for their botched Serie A clash in October.
Juventus were awarded three points after Napoli failed to show up for the encounter, due to confusion enacted by an outbreak of coronavirus in their camp, but Osimhen’s club won an appeal against a walkover and point deduction handed them by the league body.
Both sides will now go for a replay at a later date, but the biggest news for now is that Osimhen could be back playing once again as early as this Sunday, then turn his attention on other games leading up to the January 20 locking of horns with CR7 et al.
