South America powerhouse Argentina has suffered another injury blow ahead of their international match against Nigeria on November 14 in Inter Milan striker.
Argentina Football Association has confirmed that Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi will not be linking up with the Argentine squad for the friendlies against Russia and Nigeria due to a synovitis with pain in the patellar tendon of the right knee.
Based on the schedule of arrival, Icardi would have reported to the training camp on Monday, November 6.
The Inter Milan number nine suffered the knee injury in his club’s 1-1 draw with Torino in the Serie A on Sunday, in which Nigeria national-teamer Joel Obi started against his former team.
Paris Saint-Germain attacking midfielder Giovani Lo Celso, 21, could make his debut for the senior team after he was handed a late invite by La Albiceleste manager Jorge Sampaoli, before Icardi’s injury.
Meanwhile, Porto loanee Mikel Agu faces a race against time to be fit for Nigeria’s upcoming matches against Algeria (November 10) and Argentina (November 14).
The defensive midfielder had to be substituted after forty-five minutes in Bursaspor’s 2-2 draw with Kasımpaşa on Saturday because he was still nursing an injury.
”Mikel felt some pains before the match against Kasımpaşa, so the coach had to replace him after the first half”.
”His manager did not want him to worsen the injury. Bursaspor doctors have carried out tests on Mikel and they said the injury is not too serious.”
The 24-year-old Mikel has featured for the national team in four of their last five matches and was a non-playing substitute against South Africa in an African Cup of Nations qualifier back in June.
Victor Moses, Elderson Echiejile, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon had to pull out of the Super Eagles squad due to injuries, while Mainz defender Leon Balogun is short of match fitness.
But it is not looking all bleak as John Ogu returned to Hapoel Beer Sheva starting line-up in Sunday night’s fixture against Maccabi Petach Tikva after missing the last three games.
