Gala target Villa clash for Osimhen return

Galatasaray are targeting the Champions League home game against Aston Villa on November 24 for the return of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen from knee surgery, according to Turkish outlet Fanatik.

The report says the Turkish champions are unwilling to risk him in the Süper Lig home match against Samsunspor on November 21, the first fixture after the international break, even though he could be fit for it. Villa’s visit three days later is considered the more likely comeback date.

The club has set no return date and has said only that its medical team is monitoring his recovery daily.

The 27-year-old hurt his left knee in Galatasaray’s 2-0 Champions League win over VfB Stuttgart on November 3. A scan found a loose fragment in the joint, and club doctor Yener İnce, performed the operation at Maslak Acıbadem Hospital in Istanbul.

Galatasaray vice president, Mehmet Cibara, has described the problem as chronic. “Osimhen’s injury is chronic,” he told GZT, while rejecting suggestions that the club’s pitch played any part.

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The injury rules Osimhen out of Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania in Uyo on Friday and in Zanzibar on Tuesday. Galatasaray have already played without him, beating Amedspor 4-3 at home.

Before the injury, Osimhen had scored nine goals and provided three assists in eight Süper Lig appearances, putting him level at the top of the scoring chart with compatriot Gift Orban.

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