Folarin Balogun nets hat-trick with Monaco’s youth side upon return to action | OneFootball

Folarin Balogun (23) made his first appearance since undergoing shoulder surgery in December, netting a hat-trick as AS Monaco’s Groupe Élite swept aside Brighton’s U23s in a friendly at La Turbie on Tuesday.

Balogun has not featured since the start of December. The USMNT forward dislocated his shoulder in October and despite making a return in late November, there was a flare-up and with the issue not fully resolved, the decision to operate on the shoulder was taken.

He has now made a return to action for the youth side. It was a successful return as he netted a 16-minute hat-trick against Brighton before giving way at the break. Monaco held on to secure a 3-2 win in front of the onlooking Adi Hütter. Prior to the international break, the Austrian manager had alluded to Balogun making his return in this Saturday’s Derby de la Côte d’Azur, against OGC Nice.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle