Soccer
Calvin Bassey of Fulham holding the match ball. Copyright: ImagoxHenningxVonxJagow
Super Eagles defender Calvin Bassey has been projected to return to action on April 11 after sustaining a back injury last week, Soccernet.ng reports.
Bassey was named in Nigeria’s 23-man squad for the friendly games against Iran and Jordan, but he withdrew last week due to a back injury.
The announcement came as a surprise, as the 26-year-old center-back had played the full 90 minutes in Fulham’s 3-1 win over Burnley in their final game before the international break.
Nonetheless, coach Eric Chelle moved quickly to call up Trabzonspor star Chibuike Nwaiwu as his replacement.
In the meantime, Fulham have been relatively quiet regarding the Super Eagles star’s situation, and the exact nature of his back problem has yet to be confirmed.
However, according to Premier League injury experts, the former Ajax man is expected to return to action on April 11.
This suggests that the only fixtures Bassey will miss are Nigeria’s games against Iran and Jordan. Fulham do not have a game the first weekend after the international break, as they have already been knocked out of the FA Cup.
Consequently, they will return to action the following week with a big clash against Liverpool at Anfield.
Why Calvin Bassey’s Injury Update Is Good News For Fulham
Calvin Bassey has been a pivotal figure for Fulham this season, featuring in 23 of their 31 Premier League matches. The only reason he missed the other seven games was due to his participation in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
His projected early return suggests that the back injury is not a serious issue and may have even been a precautionary withdrawal.
Hence, coach Marco Silva will be banking on him to deliver during the home stretch of the campaign, with just seven games remaining.
The Cottagers are currently competing for continental qualification. They sit in ninth place, just five points behind fifth-placed Liverpool, and genuinely have a good shot at securing European football.
If they can produce a solid run and win at least six of their remaining games, they could nick a spot in Europe.
Bassey will be integral to that push. He has been one of the club’s standout performers over the last two years, even winning the Player of the Year award last season.
The Nigerian has been Fulham’s rock in defense, and he will be hoping to end the campaign on a high with the prospect of playing European football again next season.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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