Club Brugge manager Nicky Hayen has provided a crucial update on the fitness status of Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash with Barcelona on Wednesday,” Footynaija.com reports.
Onyedika made his return from a five week spell on the sidelines after coming off the bench for the final 27 minutes of Club Brugge’s narrow 2-1 win over FCV Dender in the Belgian Pro League on Saturday.
Brugge’s next game is a huge one in the Champions League against La Liga champions Barcelona, and following Onyedika’s return from injury, many will be expecting the 24-year-old Nigerian to play a significant part for the Belgian outfit.
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However, Club Brugge manager Hayen was quick to note after the win over Dender that Onyedika has yet to reach full fitness and as such, is unlikely to feature for the entirety of the upcoming clash with Barcelona.
“Thirty minutes was the maximum for him (Onyedika) in this match (vs Dender),” Hayen told the club’s official website.
“Can he start against Barcelona (Wednesday)? To make that decision, we have to see what the impact is and how he feels. I can already say that it’s out of the question for him to play 90 minutes. That’s too big a step in terms of intensity.”
On his part, Onyedika has already expressed optimism about his chances of playing a significant role for Club Brugge when they open the gates of the Jan Breydelstadion to last season’s UCL semifinalists.
The decision on how big a role Onyedika will play against Barcelona on Wednesday ultimately rests in the hands of head coach Hayen, who will certainly be hoping to have the Nigeria international can somehow reach top shape before the game.
