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Victor Osimhen has been named in Galatasaray’s travelling squad for Friday’s Super Lig clash at Alanyaspor, handing the Turkish champions a timely lift ahead of next week’s Champions League meeting with Liverpool, Footynaija.com reports.
The Nigerian striker has not featured since picking up a thigh injury while on international duty in Nigeria’s 1–0 win over Rwanda earlier this month.
Osimhen’s absence forced him to miss league games against Eyüpspor and Konyaspor, as well as the bruising 5–1 European defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Galatasaray have coped admirably without their talisman, sitting top of the Super Lig with six wins from six, but manager Okan Buruk knows the scale of the challenge Liverpool will bring to Istanbul next Tuesday. For that reason, Osimhen’s return is being treated with care.
“He took part in part of the training session,” Buruk confirmed. “He has minor aches and pains. But if he can tolerate them, we hope he’ll be with the team in our next match. We expect him to be in the squad for Alanyaspor, and we expect him to be on the pitch for Liverpool.”
The reality is that Osimhen may only feature off the bench on Friday, with Galatasaray reluctant to gamble on his fitness. The 26-year-old has already missed four matches in September, and the club can ill afford a setback with a decisive European tie on the horizon.
Osimhen rejoined Galatasaray on a permanent deal this summer after a prolific loan spell from Napoli, where he struck 37 goals in 41 appearances last season. This term he has managed two goals in just three outings, spearheading Galatasaray’s attack.
Galatasaray’s dominance on the domestic front has given Buruk breathing space to manage his star forward’s return.
They have scored 18 goals and conceded only twice in the league, opening a six-point gap over second-placed Göztepe. But Europe is the real test, and the Liverpool fixture is already shaping up as a defining night in their campaign.
