Osimhen’s Fitness is a Concern for Napoli Before Liverpool Visit

The health of Super Eagles attacker Victor Osimhen is a concern for Napoli ahead of their first group play in the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool at the Stadio Maradona tonight.

The 2-1 away victory for Napoli against Lazio on Saturday despite the Nigerian international’s slight muscle strain allowed him to finish the game.

On Monday morning, Napoli reported for duty at the Konami Training Center for a recovery session, although Osimhen worked out alone due to the injury he sustained in the last seconds of the Lazio match.

At the conclusion of practice on Tuesday, the Blues gave a new update on Osimhen’s health on their official website, claiming that the number 9 followed his own regimen both in the gym and on the field.

Osimhen had a hot start to the 2022–2023 Serie A season, scoring in each of his first two games. However, after going scoreless against Lazio last weekend, he went three games without scoring.

The 2015 U17 World Cup champion missed 13 games for Napoli last season due to physical difficulties.

It has been revealed that the Super Eagles player, who had suffered a slight muscular injury, continued playing in the final minutes of the Serie A encounter against Lazio despite being in significant discomfort.

After today’s practice, according to Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti, he will decide if Osimhen is available.

At the SSCN Konami Training Center Tuesday morning, Osimhen did not completely participate in the Napoli team’s workout.

Osimhen had some soreness yesterday, thus according to statements from Spalletti cited by Football Italia, “he didn’t exercise yesterday and trained separately today.

If his condition improves from today, he will workout with the group tomorrow. If he is feeling up to it, he will attempt to shoot and use the ball more tomorrow, and if that goes well, as it did this morning, he will be eligible for selection.

Osimhen has played 425 minutes and scored twice in the five games Napoli has played so far in the 2022–2023 season.

In two games against Premier League opponents in European play, the 23-year-old has scored three goals combined — a brace against Leicester City in the Europa League and one against Chelsea in the Champions League during his time at Lille.

In a similar situation, Napoli’s manager suffered a broken shoulder before the game.

The 63-year-old Italian said to reporters, “I was engaged in an accident on Sunday.” Salvatore Sirigu and Diego Demme were receiving instruction, and I was in charge of it. When players are practicing, I’m always there.

Sadly, I cracked a bone in my shoulder and was in excruciating agony. My x-ray at the Milan clinic where I went for some checkups verified that I had a fracture.

Tonight, I was able to go back to Naples with a buddy. He grinned at Napoli captain Giovanni Di Lorenzo who was sitting next to him and remarked, “I missed yesterday’s training session, but it’s okay because I have my captain here to encourage me.

You’ll see me wearing this sling for a while, at least for the next month.

Liverpool has also been forewarned by Spalletti, a former player for Roma and Inter Milan, that Wednesday night would be a cauldron of noise.

We are aware of the strength Maradona can provide for us, he said. “I have no doubt that Anfield will hear our stadium’s Champions Scream tomorrow.” Our supporters know how to give us a lot of life, and the excitement must win out over the anxiety.