Victor Osimhen gets new, lighter protective mask

Napoli striker Victor Osimhen has received a new, lighter protective mask and is ‘recovering better than expected’ from multiple facial fractures, reports Football Italia.

The forward was ruled out for a couple of months after the horrific clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar in late November left him with shocking injuries.

He required 18 metal screws and six plaques to stabilise the facial fractures to his cheekbone and orbital bone.

Osimhen returned to action last month wearing a protective mask, but found it irritating and restrictive to his vision.

On Tuesday he had a check-up with surgeon Gianpaolo Tartaro, who performed the original operation, and a lighter mask was created.

“We have already begun to reduce the protective mask, which he will wear from this weekend’s game with Venezia,” Tartaro told Radio Kiss Kiss.

“The mask is certainly causing him some difficulties, but it’s the only thing allowing him to play. He will certainly wear it until the end of February, then after more tests we’ll decide if he can take it off or continue to wear it in March.

“Osimhen no longer has scarring or swelling, his biological response to the fractures is better than expected. Every time, he manages to recover quicker than we thought.”