Napoli Coach Delivers Update On Victor Osimhen’s Injury
Nigeria international and Napoli striker Victor Osimhen missed his second match of the season at against Salernitana in the Italian Serie A at the Arechi Stadium on Sunday, after picking up an injury in training.
Ahead of their trip to face Salernitana, Napoli confirmed on their official website the extent of the injury suffered by Osimhen by stating:
“Victor [Osimhen] this morning [Sunday], at the Pineta Grande Clinic, underwent instrumental tests that showed a contracture of the right gastrocnemius,” the club said in a statement. “Osimhen has already started treatment and his condition will be evaluated in the coming days.”
Salernitana 0-1 Napoli
Polish player Piotr Zielinski scored the only goal in the 61st minute of the match against Salernitana, which saw Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly sent off in the 76th minute. Victory helped Napoli cement top spot in Serie A, with 31 points from 11 matches. AC Milan are second also on 31 points. Inter Milan are third on 24 points.
Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti is hopeful striker Victor Osimhen will be available for its next Serie A game against Verona on Sunday. Osimhen, 22, who had started in each of Napoli’s previous eight matches.
Speaking after the Salernitana game, Spalletti pencilled in the team’s fixture against Verona at Diego Armando Maradona Stadium on Sunday as a possible return date for the Super Eagles forward, meaning he will almost certainly miss their Group C Europa League fixture against Legia Warsaw at Polish Army Stadium on Wednesday.
“It remains to be seen if he [Osimhen] has to stay out for a couple of games,” Spalletti said to the media after the game. “For Sunday he can also do it, we have a lot of trust in our doctors.”
Osimhen’s return to action would also be good news for Nigeria and coach Gernot Rohr as they prepare for their two remaining 2022 Fifa World Cup qualifying matches against Liberia and Cape Verde.
The Super Eagles are currently topping Group C on nine points from four matches and will next face Liberia on November 13 at Stade Ibn Batouta, before they conclude its group matches with a home game against Cape Verde at Teslim Balogun Stadium on November 16.
Chidi Nwoke/Goal.
