Injury: Osimhen returns to Nigeria ahead of surgery decision

Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has travelled to Nigeria to assess his options after sustaining a fractured right forearm during Galatasaray’s 4-0 Champions League defeat to Liverpool at Anfield on Wednesday, with a decision on surgery yet to be made as the Super Eagles striker waits for the swelling to subside, Ssaturday PUNCH reports.

Osimhen’s evening ended before it truly began. The Nigerian striker collided with Liverpool centre-back Ibrahima Konate during an aerial duel in the 10th minute, with the Liverpool defender landing heavily on Osimhen’s arm. Despite being in visible discomfort and having his arm strapped up on the pitch, the 27-year-old showed remarkable resilience to complete the first half. However, checks at the interval confirmed the full extent of the damage, and he was not risked in the second half. Galatasaray later confirmed in an official statement that hospital examinations had revealed a fracture in his right forearm, with his arm subsequently placed in a cast.

According to Turkish sports publication Fanatik, Osimhen will wait for the swelling to reduce before making a final decision on whether to undergo surgery. Should he opt for the procedure, he is expected to be sidelined for approximately six weeks, a timeline that would see him miss crucial Super Lig fixtures against Trabzonspor, Kocaelispor and Genclerbirligi and leave him in a race against time to recover for the blockbuster Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce on April 26.

Osimhen was not the only Galatasaray player to leave Anfield in distress. Winger Noa Lang, who had replaced Osimhen at half-time, suffered a considerably more alarming injury in the second half when he caught his thumb in the advertising hoarding behind Alisson’s goal, sustaining a partially severed thumb that required immediate medical attention from both Galatasaray and Liverpool doctors. He was carried off and transported to the hospital, where he was scheduled to undergo surgery in Liverpool. Punch