Barely two weeks to the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers between Nigeria and Guinea Bissau, Super Eagles defender, William Troost-Ekong, is making frantic effort to be fit for the clash as he resumes individual training.
The Eagles are scheduled to play the Djurtus in a two-legged affair as they bid to book their place at the AFCON in Ivory Coast next year.
The first leg holds at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on March 24, before the Eagles travel to Morocco for the second leg March 28.
A recent update by an Italian publication, salernonotizie.it, confirmed that the former Udinese player had resumed training but remained highly unlikely to be available for the tie.
“First steps out. Let’s gooo,” the website wrote.
“Troost-Ekong publishes the video of happiness, normality, the return to competitive activity on social networks. The grenade defender was hurt in Verona: fracture of the tibial plateau. Today he started running again and could return to the field after the break at the end of March, in time to participate in the away match on April 2 in La Spezia.”
The 29-year-old picked up an injury in Salernitana’s 1-0 defeat to Hellas Verona last month and was replaced by Norbert Gyomber seven minutes from time after it was confirmed he could not continue with the game.
The report that Troost-Ekong may not be fully fit for the clash will come as a huge blow to Portuguese tactician Jose Peseiro, who is still uncertain about the availability of Leon Balogun and Kenneth Omeruo.
Balogun has not featured for Queen Parks Rangers for four months due to a calf injury he sustained last November. His last game for QPR was against Huddersfield Town at the start of November and was replaced at halftime after copping the injury.
Also, Omeruo is currently recovering from a shoulder injury he sustained in January against Albacete and remains a huge doubt for the encounter.
Nigeria currently top their Group A with six points following wins over Sierra Leone in Nigeria before thrashing Sao Tome and Principe 10-0 away from home.
Victories in the double header clash against Guinea-Bissau will see the three-time Africa champions pick the ticket to Ivory Coast next year.