Galatasaray Manager Suggests Victor Osimhen Could Return Sooner Than Expected From Injury

Galatasaray's head coach, Okan Buruk, has hinted that Victor Osimhen may make an earlier than anticipated recovery from his current injury. The Nigerian international forward is undergoing rehabilitation for an arm injury he sustained last month during a UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool, an injury that necessitated surgical intervention.

While the initial timeline suggested Osimhen might aim to be fit for the crucial Intercontinental Derby scheduled for April 26 against Fenerbahçe, Buruk's recent comments imply a faster recovery process. Reports indicate that the 27-year-old player has already begun on-field running exercises under the guidance of physiotherapists.

Coach Buruk mentioned that the upcoming match against Kocaelispor this weekend is unlikely to see Osimhen's participation. However, he did not rule out the possibility of the striker being available for the subsequent game against Gençlerbirliği the following week. The manager also conveyed that the club might still adopt a cautious approach, potentially holding him back from that fixture to ensure he is fully prepared for the derby encounter with Fenerbahçe.

This update comes as a significant positive development for Galatasaray, especially after their recent 3-1 victory over Göztepe, which extended their lead at the top of the Süper Lig standings to four points. With the league title race heating up, the return of their primary goal scorer, who has already contributed 12 league goals this season, could prove to be a decisive factor in the concluding stages of the campaign.