Villarreal sweat over Chukwueze’s injury

The Nigerian international missed Nigeria’s crucial qualifier against Ghana on Tuesday

Villarreal have been hit with an injury blow as winger Samuel Chukwueze is a major doubt for this weekend’s La Liga clash at Levante.

Chukwueze was the Super Eagles’ starting right-winger in their dull 0-0 draw in Kumasi, but he suffered an injury and was replaced by Emmanuel Dennis in the 70th minute.

The nature of Chukwueze’s injury has not been revealed. Still, caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen, ahead of Tuesday’s return leg with the Black Stars, confirmed that the attacker had undergone an MRI test.

“He is still under observation. An MRI was done in Chukwueze, but the result has not arrived and we are not going to risk it,” Eguavoen said.

On his part, Super Eagles assistant coach Emmanuel Amuneke hinted that Chukwueze suffered an adductor puncture against Ghana and ruled him out of the return leg.

As expected, Chukwueze did not feature as Nigeria managed a disappointing 1-1 draw against Ghana in Abuja on Tuesday. The Super Eagles will not participate in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in November.

Villarreal are more concerned about Chukwueze, though. The former Golden Eaglets ace could miss the Yellow Submarines’ league meeting with Levante on Saturday and the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich four days later.

Chukwueze was one of the star performers as Villarreal knocked out Juventus 4-1 on aggregate in the last round of the continental competition.