Calvin Bassey is expected to return to action on 11 April after a back injury forced him to withdraw from Nigeria national football team’s recent international friendlies.
The Fulham defender had been named in Nigeria’s squad to face Iran national football team and Jordan, but pulled out shortly before the matches.
Bassey’s absence came as a surprise after he completed 90 minutes in Fulham’s Premier League win over Burnley prior to the international break.
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle subsequently called up Chibuike Nwaiwu as a replacement.
While Fulham have yet to confirm the exact nature of the injury, reports suggest the problem is not serious, with the 26-year-old likely to miss only the international fixtures.
That timeline would see him return in time for Fulham’s next league match against Liverpool at Anfield.
Bassey has been a key figure for Fulham this season, making 23 appearances in the Premier League. His only absences prior to the injury came during the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Manager Marco Silva will hope the defender can play a leading role in the closing stages of the campaign, with Fulham pushing for a place in European competition.
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The club are currently ninth in the table, five points behind fifth place, with seven matches remaining.
