Paul Onuachu set to miss Trabzonspor’s Besiktas clash with muscle injury

Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu is expected to be unavailable for Monday’s Turkish Super Lig meeting with Besiktas after suffering a muscle injury in the club’s 4-2 UEFA Conference League win over KuPS.

The Nigeria international gave Trabzonspor an early lead on Thursday evening, scoring in the third minute. However, his involvement was cut short when he was forced off only seven minutes later after picking up the injury.

Reports in Turkey suggest Onuachu is unlikely to recover in time for the matchday eight fixture at Papara Park. Turkish sports newspaper Fanatik says the 32-year-old has already started treatment, but faces a race against time to be fit for the visit of Besiktas.

A separate report by Sabah also says the Super Eagles striker is expected to miss the match, leaving Trabzonspor manager Thomas Reis with a potential selection problem in attack for one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season.

Reis is reportedly considering Franculino Dju as a possible replacement for Onuachu in the starting line-up.

The Guinea-Bissau attacker began the KuPS game among the substitutes. Dju has previously scored against Nigeria, finding the net in the countries’ most recent 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Onuachu has played 10 matches for Trabzonspor across all competitions this season. He has recorded 590 minutes on the pitch and scored three goals.

His potential absence would leave Trabzonspor without the striker who opened the scoring against KuPS, although the Turkish side went on to secure a two-goal victory in the UEFA Conference League. Monday’s fixture against Besiktas will be the club’s matchday eight contest in the Turkish Super Lig.