Good news for Celtic fans and Nigerian football enthusiasts: Super Eagles star Kelechi Iheanacho rejoined full training with the Scottish champions on Wednesday. This development comes just a day before their crucial Europa League match against Feyenoord.

The club’s official social media platforms shared photos of the squad in action. Iheanacho was prominently featured, actively participating in group drills. His inclusion offers a significant boost to the team.

Iheanacho’s Return to Action

Iheanacho has been sidelined since October 23. He sustained a hamstring injury in the early minutes of Celtic’s 2-1 victory over Sturm Graz. This injury forced him to miss six consecutive matches, including a League Cup semi-final against Rangers.

Before his setback, the former Manchester City forward had begun to find his rhythm at Celtic Park. He contributed to four goals in eight appearances across all competitions. His injury also dashed hopes for a recall to the Nigerian national team for the World Cup qualifying games. He has not featured for the Super Eagles since the Unity Cup match against Jamaica. Notably, he is yet to play a competitive fixture under current Super Eagles manager, Eric Chelle.

Chukwueze’s Future at Fulham

In Italy, AC Milan stands to gain a substantial financial boost. This will happen if Fulham opts to sign Samuel Chukwueze permanently at the end of the season. According to Soccernet.ng, the Serie A giants could receive €23 million, approximately ₦39 billion, should the Cottagers convert his loan into a permanent deal next summer.

Chukwueze moved to Fulham on deadline day after falling out of favour at Milan. The agreement included an option to buy, not an obligation. This provides Fulham with flexibility to assess his fit within Marco Silva’s long-term plans.

His start in London was initially quiet. However, the Nigerian winger is steadily making an impact. Last week, he impressed against Sunderland. He came off the bench for his fifth Premier League appearance, delivering a lively half-hour cameo. His performance earned him the Man of the Match award, with Sofascore rating him as the best player on the pitch. If he maintains this impressive form, manager Marco Silva is likely to grant him a more prominent role in the squad.

Ola Aina’s Injury Update

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche has provided an update on Ola Aina. The Nigerian defender is yet to rejoin full training. This comes as the club prepares for Thursday’s Europa League tie against Malmö.

Aina has been recovering from a hamstring injury. He picked up the injury during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with South Africa in September’s World Cup qualifier. The setback has kept him out of four recent Super Eagles matches, including crucial playoff fixtures in Morocco. He has also missed 14 club games for Forest.

Despite sharing videos of his individual training sessions, Aina has not yet made the final step back to team sessions. Dyche confirmed his status, stating, “Ola Aina is not on the grass with us yet; he’s still going to take a bit of time.”