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By Anthony Nlebem.
Napoli coach, Luciano Spalletti, says Victor Osimhen will be back for their clash with Hellas Verona on Saturday, PUNCH Sports Extra.
Spalletti admits the plan is for the 24-year-old to return action with the aim to being fully fit and prepared for the Partenopei’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg against AC Milan in Naples.
The Nigerian who trained with the rest of his Napoli teammates on Friday for the first time since he suffered a minor niggle in his adductor muscle while on international duty with Nigeria.
The former Lille striker missed Napoli’s last three games against Lecce and AC Milan in the Serie A and in the Champions League
“The conditions are good, we made a meeting with the doctors this morning (Friday) and it seemed to us the natural consequence of everything that came out of calling him up for tomorrow’s (Saturday) match,”Spalletti told a pre-match conference.
“It’s clear that the goal is to get him at his best for Tuesday’s match, but tomorrow (Saturday) he’ll be with us on the bench.
“Whoever takes to the pitch tomorrow will have to do so knowing that they are playing one of the most important matches in this season.
“Some changes will be made, I don’t know what that means reasoned or unreasoned. Not ten players, Kim is going to play as a starter.
“Then some have to recover because the physical and mental stress of two days ago is too close.
“Others, however, will stay. You have alert colleagues, and some names will come up as we go along.”
Spalleti’s side sit top of the Serie A log, 16 points clear of second place Lazio with nine games left to play while Hellas Verona sit inside the relegation zone with only nine games remaining.
The presence of Osimhen will boost the Partenopei’s attack as the team have been struggling to score goals in his absence.
The Parthenopeans have scored only two goals in their last three matches without the prolific Nigerian striker.