Victor Osimhen ‘to return’ for Gençlerbirliği ahead of Fenerbahçe derby | OneFootball

Galatasaray have been handed a timely lift, with Victor Osimhen primed for an earlier return as the Süper Lig leaders try to halt a wobble.

Fotomaç reports that the urgency of the title race has fast-tracked his recovery, and the 27-year-old is now set to make the matchday squad for this weekend’s Gençlerbirliği game, having initially been expected to wait for the Fenerbahçe derby.

Okan Buruk’s plan is to start him on the bench. If Galatasaray struggle to find a breakthrough, he would play at least one half, otherwise he is likely to feature for the final 20 to 25 minutes. A subsequent cup tie against the same opponents is earmarked to build rhythm.

He is then expected to start the Week 31 derby with Fenerbahçe, and will wear a protective bandage on his arm to safeguard the recovery, the report adds.

Osimhen’s absence has bitten hard. In the five league matches he missed, Galatasaray won only once and dropped 10 points, with defeats to Trabzonspor and Konyaspor and draws against Gaziantep FK and Kocaelispor. The 75-million-euro forward’s return is timely with Mauro Icardi off colour and Barış Alper Yılmaz overburdened, even as Galatasaray hold a two-point lead over Fenerbahçe.

Source: Turkish-Football.com