Napoli marksman Victor Osimhen is in line to make his return back on the playing stage in the Partenopei’s visit to Bologna at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara.
After suffering an excruciating facial fracture at the hands of Inter defender Milan Skriniar on November 21, Osimhen had to undergo surgery for his multiple fractures. The duo clashed while contesting for a header, as the back of Skriniar’s head struck the striker’s face above the cheekbone. Osimhen was immediately rushed to the hospital following the incident.
He returned to training at the start of last week with a protective mask, hinting at the fact that he is nearing his comeback. He was ruled out for more than two months The 23-year-old has now been instated in Napoli’s 22-man traveling squad to face Bologna on Monday.
Speaking to the club’s official website in his pre-match press interview, coach Luciano Spalletti revealed that Osimhen is on the right path to recovery.
“Osimhen is working with us, Zielinski has been training at home these days and if he passes the exams after Covid tomorrow, he could join us in Bologna. We have some situations that can be taken into consideration for tomorrow,” he said.
The Nigerian had to be fitted with six titanium plaques and 18 screws, as relayed by the surgeon Giapaolo Tartaro, who operated on his face. The injury did damage to his eye socket and the area just above the cheekbone. Tartaro said that the wound was one of ‘compression injury’ that did ‘devastating damage’.
Since then, Osimhen has made remarkable recovery in the space of around two months and he might just make a cameo against the Rossoblu.
He withdrew from Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations campaign after sustaining the injury, and also after contracting Covid couple of months ago.
Spalletti’s Napoli will look to take advantage of yesterday’s stalemate between Atalanta and Inter – having already taken the chance to sarcastically ‘congratulate’ the duo for the handy draw that will now allow Napoli to provisionally shorten the gap on league leaders Inter and 2nd placed Milan.
The Nigerian has banged in 9 goals and provided 2 assists for the Partenopei in 14 appearances this campaign across all competitions.