Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun returned to training for his German Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on Wednesday after a two-week injury layoff.
The 28-year-old Berlin-born defender, who could be available for selection for Sunday’s Bundesliga clash against Darmstadt 98 at Opel Arena, got injured during the O-Fives’ 3-2 defeat to Bayer Leverkusen at home on September 24. In his absence, Mainz, who are placed 11th in the table, held Wolfsburg to a goalless draw at Volkswagen Arena on October 2.
Balogun, who made his international debut for Nigeria in 2014 against Mexico, pulled out of Nigeria’s opening Russia 2018 World Cup Group B qualifier against Zambia at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia, on Sunday. Goals from Arsenal’s Alex iwobi and Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho helped the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Chipolopolo.
And Kenneth Omeruo, who filled in for Balogun in the centre-back, made a series of mistakes. Veteran Chipolopolo striker Collins Mbesuma took advantage of Omeruo’s schoolboy error to reduce the tally for his side.
Mainz official website confirmed on Thursday Balogun could be selected by manager Martin Schmidt alongside Fabian Frei for Sunday’s home encounter with the Nigeria player’s former club, Darmstadt 98, who are placed 14th in the table.
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr will be delighted with the return of the versatile defender as he looks to fix the Eagles’ defensive problems ahead of their Russia 2018 qualifier against Algeria in Uyo on November 12.
Chipolopolo attackers cut open the Eagles’ defence on several occasions during the game but goalkeeper Carl Ikeme goalkeeper kept Nigeria in the contest with a series of superb saves.
Meanwhile, Middleborough midfielder Adam Forshaw has warned his teammates about the threat Watford strike pair Troy Deeney and Odion Ighalo could pose in their Premier League game on Sunday.
Nigeria striker Ighalo could not travel with the Eagles to Zambia because the game coincided with his father’s burial. Rohr has confirmed the 27-year-old remains part of his plans for the qualifiers.
“Everyone knows they’re really strong up top, with two good centre-forwards,” Forshaw told Boro’s official website on Thursday.
“They’re quite a direct side. We played against them in the Championship and they were a good team then.
“I think they’re quite simple in their approach – they get the ball up to Deeney and Ighalo plays off him. It’s a little bit more of a direct game, and it’s been effective for them in the last few years.
“Their strength is their two front players, so they look to get it up to them as quick as possible. That’s where they think they can score their goals.”
“But we’ll have a game plan to try to stop them and get goals for ourselves.”
