Nigeria international Oghenekaro Etebo has been battling with fitness issues since being forced off the pitch after just 23 minutes against Sheffield Wednesday on the 22nd October.
Stoke City manager Michael O’Neill has revealed that Super Eagles midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo has no chance with the first team for a period of time.
The 24-year-old, who was a key component of the Super Eagles squad that finished in third place at the 2019 AFCON tournament in Egypt, missed Nigeria’s games against Benin and Lesotho in November due to the same injury.
However, the former Feirense midfielder returned to training two weeks ago and even made the substitute bench in a loss at Cardiff in late November but has not appeared in a matchday squad since.
The midfield workhorse was though expected to be in line to make his much-anticipated return on Tuesday when the Potters, in search of their first win in four games, hosted Luton Town.
But Stoke manager O’Neill has decided to gradually ease the all-action fans favourite back to top-level football by featuring him for the club’s U23 side this week and not against Luton Town at the Bet365 Stadium.
Taking to his official twitter account, the Nigerian midfielder tweeted “I don’t like to gamble but if there’s one thing I’m willing to bet on, it’s myself”.
Etebo has given the green light over his injury concerns from the coach which has derived his appearance since his return, confident that he is ready to go on.
Many expected his comeback being a fan favourite and give a new edge to the team following their four games run without a win, but the Coach has decided to ease him slowly much to the annoyance of the vocal fans who have long expected his return.
Michael O’Neill (MON) was quoted on Stoke’s official twitter account to have said:
“Cameron Carter-Vickers had to leave the squad due to illness and Badou is suffering from a virus. Peter Etebo will play for the Under-23s given the amount of time he has been out.”
Here are some of the fan response to O’Neill’s call on Etebo:
@John45804389: Another manager without a backbone.
Etebo at 50% is better than Allan at 100%. Grow a pair and drop these non-performers
@jamie_speed: The player with the most natural stamina needing an under 23s warm-up game after being back in the squad for 2 weeks is farcical.
Even a 50% fitness Etebo is still better than anything we have playing atm.
@RussellDutton: Absolutely unbelievable, he must be one of the fittest players in the squad, even after a slight injury. Something odd happening there.
@george95349403: Absolute joke MON is really acting like he doesn’t have a clue, Etebo is our best player and our fittest player it’s a joke.
Etebo will be looking forward to featuring in their weekend tie when they travel away in a bid to end their 4-streak games loss.
