Eric Chelle gets massive boost as Super Eagles defender trains again

Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has gotten a massive boost ahead of Nigeria's upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March as Semi Ajayi returns to club training, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 30-year-old has been out of action with a hamstring injury since October last year, while his Nigerian teammate, Josh Maja, also suffered an injury last month.

West Bromwich Albion head coach, Tony Mowbray, confirmed Ajayi's return to training. The new West Brom revealed Ajayi has been featuring for the club's U-21 side in a bid to regain full fitness.

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“I've just had conversations with [director of medical] Tony Strudwick about Dike. You could say the same about Semi [Ajayi] and the same for maybe Frabotta and Cole. When do they play? I'm asking.”

“I need to see all these players play. It's okay to put them in little boxes with drills. I'd like to see them all play in an under-21s game. You can only play three overage players. I've had the conversation with Semi. ‘What about 45 minutes?' I'm coming to watch. Him having to react and deal with things.”

“At all my clubs in the past – they play (for the youth team). If they are not getting games, then they play. They are here to play. So (they need to) want to play, show me, it's an opportunity to show me why you should be in our team,” the 61-year-old said in quotes revealed by Express and Star.

Eric Chelle's first assignment for the Super Eagles will come up on the 19th of March as Nigeria travel to Rwanda for their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier.

Ajayi has about six weeks to return to full fitness and claim a spot in Eric Chelle's squad for the World Cup qualifiers in March. Prior to his injury, he played every minute for West Brom in the EFL Championship.

The Albions are currently 6th on the Sky Bet Championship table and will be hoping to end up in the play-offs spot when the season comes to an end.