Victor Osimhen has finally made his long-awaited start for Napoli in any competition against Atalanta in Wednesday’s Coppa Italia semi-final second leg which will take place at the KKWing Stadium.
Napoli’s big-money buy has regained full match fitness and has made the starting line-up, his first in more than three months, precisely 94 days as his club vie to reach the Italian Cup final.
The last time the Super Eagles attacking sensation was on from the start for the Partenopei was when they fell by a lone goal at home to Bologna in a Serie A encounter on November 8 of last year.
Ever since then, the 22-year-old has been out due to a shoulder injury he suffered while he was on international duty for Nigeria after which he tested positive for the totally deadly coronavirus.
Since making his return, Osimhen has made four appearances albeit from the substitutes’ bench firstly in a 3-1 loss against Hellas Verona in a Serie A encounter which was played on January 24.
His second cameo appearance for Napoli came in the quarter-finals of the Coppa Italia in a 4-2 victory over Spezia on January 28 and thirdly in last week Wednesday’s 0-0 Cup draw with Atalanta.
Osimhen was also not in the starling line-up but came on as a replacement for Andrea Petagna in the 54th minute as Napoli lost 2-1 to Genoa in a Serie tie at the Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday.
But the Nigerian is finally set to start against Atalanta.