Victor Osimhen needs ‘a miracle’ to play against Juventus, Egypt

Victor Osimhen hopes to be available against Juventus in January, but Napoli doctors have yet to give him the green light, reports Football Italia.

The 22 year old spent the Christmas break in Lagos, Nigeria but is expected to return to Naples on Friday for a medical check after a cheekbone surgery undergone at the end of November.

Napoli ruled him out of action for three months, but Osimhen said last week that he would be available to play for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations from January 9 to February 6.

Nigeria’s training retreat begins on Wednesday in Abuja and it is still unclear whether or not Osimhen will join his teammates for the first training session before the beginning of the tournament.

However, Osimhen is unlikely to be available against Juventus and the upcoming medical check in Naples is crucial to assess his injury.

“It takes from 60 to 90 days for the bone callus formation unless there is a biological Christmas miracle,” Gianpaolo Tartaro, the doctor who performed Osimhen’s surgery, told Il Corriere dello Sport as quoted by Calciomercato.com.

Therefore, Osimhen may not be allowed to play against Juventus and Nigeria’s opening group D game against Egypt on January 11 at the Africa Cup of Nations.