After producing a strong, pleasing performance despite Les Pepineros falling to a narrow defeat at the hands of champions Barcelona, Nigeria international defender Kenneth Omeruo will be sidelined for a while due to a new injury setback, his club manager has confirmed.
Leganes succumbed to a 2-1 home loss at the Butarque to Ernesto Valverde’s men to stay rooted to the foot of the La Liga table having earned just six points after 14 rounds of matches.
2013 AFCON winning centre back, Omeruo featured in just nine of those games, though, having been battling with a niggling muscular problem that also cost him his place in the Super Eagles.
The former Chelsea defender last started a match for Nigeria at the 2019 African Cup of Nations tournament where Gernot Rohr’s men finished in third place. He was on the bench as the centre half pairing of William Troost-Ekong and Semi Ajayi helped the Super Eagles see off Benin and Lesotho in a 2021 AFCON qualifying double header last week.
However, it appears the trying times have not completely cleared for the 27-year-old whose attempt to force himself into the plans of new club boss Javier Aguirre may have to be put on hold until the new year.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference as monitored by Soccernet.ng after the Barcelona tie, the Mexican manager confirmed that Omeruo and his Venezuelan teammate Roberto Rosales, may be unavailable for the Cucumber Growers for a long time.
“They are injuries that can take a while. Omeruo has something muscular and Rosales looks like a sprain,” said Aguirre.
Omeruo, who was replaced in the 83rd minute by the defender Rodrigo Tarín, has already missed five consecutive games for Leganes against Osasuna, Villarreal, Levante, Mallorca and SD Eibar this term.