Osimhen faces late fitness test ahead of crucial Liverpool Champions League clash

Galatasaray manager Okan Buruk has confirmed that Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen will undergo a decisive late fitness test today to determine his availability for Tuesday’s high stakes Champions League showdown against Liverpool.

The 26-year-old forward, who missed Galatasaray’s opening group stage match, a 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, due to injury, has only played ten minutes of club football since sustaining an ankle injury on September 6 while representing Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Rwanda.

Despite returning to training in recent days, Osimhen’s condition remains uncertain.

‘Victor continued training. We will see how he was in the last training session today,’ Buruk told Turkish Football.

‘It is positive that he played 10 minutes in the last match and continued training. We will look at his condition today and make a decision.’

Osimhen’s presence would be a massive boost for the Turkish champions, who are eager to rebound from their opening day humiliation.

Prior to his injury, the former African Footballer of the Year had scored in back-to-back Super Lig matches, reaffirming his role as Galatasaray’s most potent attacking weapon.

His return could be pivotal against Arne Slot’s Liverpool side, six time European champions, especially with the match set to take place at the intimidating Ali Sami Yen Spor Kompleksi.

Osimhen has faced Liverpool twice before in the Champions League, registering one win and one loss.

However, he’s yet to score against the Reds and will be hoping to break that duck if passed fit. Liverpool would be the second English club he’s faced in the competition, having previously played against Chelsea.