Dele-Bashiru nears injury return

Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of S.S. Lazio is in action during the 38th matchday of the Serie A championship between S.S. Lazio and Pisa Sporting Club 1909 at the Olympic Stadium in Rome, Italy, on May 23, 2026. (Photo by Domenico Cippitelli / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Super Eagles midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is closing in on a return from injury, with Lazio hoping he can rejoin team training before Saturday’s Serie A meeting with AC Milan, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

La Gazzetta dello Sport reports that Dele-Bashiru could return to group training by Thursday. If that happens, Lazio coach Gennaro Gattuso could include the 25-year-old in his squad for the Milan game at the Stadio Olimpico on Saturday, September 12, though a place on the bench remains the realistic target rather than a starting role.

The midfielder has been out with a thigh problem since August 25, a day after playing 54 minutes in Lazio’s 1-0 Serie A win away to Bologna, having also played 71 minutes against Mantova in the Coppa Italia eight days earlier.

The injury came just as the Nigeria international had started the new season as part of Gattuso’s midfield plans.

Lazio have started the Serie A campaign strongly, beating Bologna 1-0 and Genoa 1-0, before coming from behind to beat Udinese 2-1 on September 7. Dele-Bashiru missed the latter two victories while recovering.

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The Gazzetta report gives Dele-Bashiru a chance of returning to the squad much sooner than some public injury trackers had suggested, with earlier reports listing October as his expected return date.

His recovery is also positive news for Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle, with Nigeria’s next competitive matches drawing close.

The Super Eagles are scheduled to face Madagascar on September 23 before travelling to play Guinea-Bissau four days later in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

Dele-Bashiru has become a regular part of Nigeria’s squad and was involved in the team’s recent international programme, featuring for 27 minutes against Poland and 60 minutes against Portugal in June, during which he also supplied an assist in the 2-1 defeat to Portugal.

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