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By Anthony Nlebem.
Super Eagles and Real Sociedad striker Umar Sadiq could return after the international break, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 26-year-old suffered an injury on September 11, 2022 against Getafe on match-day 5 of LaLiga 2022/23 and was ruled out for the rest of the season.
But he is now likely to return in March, but remains a doubt for Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Guinea Bissau.
The Super Eagles are scheduled to play the Djurtus in a two-legged affair as they bid to book their place at the AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.
The first leg holds at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 24, before the Eagles travel to Morocco for the second leg on March 28.
Sodiq’s return ahead of time is a big boost for Sociedad, who signed the Nigerian striker from Almería in September 2022 for a club-record fee of €20m.
Sadiq said in January that he would be back on the pitch training at some point.
“I will be four months into my operation and rehabilitation by next month (February) but I feel good already and will resume working on the pitch next month,” Sadiq was quoted by Owngoal as saying.
“That is way ahead of my schedule, It’s a miracle that even my doctors can’t believe. I am supposed to be out for at least six months and the doctors insist it has to be that time frame.
“However, I have been told I must be 150 per cent fit before I can return in order not to suffer a relapse but from the look of things I will be back in eight weeks. We will see to that or maybe even earlier.”
The Nigerian striker will likely have to undergo a lengthy rehab, but there is a chance he could play a part after the international break in March.