Joel Obi’s Injury startles Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has expressed dismay over the reported injury to Inter Milan of Italy midfielder, Joel Obi, declaring that the player  has always been in his plans in the national scheme of things.

Keshi said in Abuja at the team’s Bolton White Apartment camp that even if the player was not on his list for the upcoming qualifiers in June, he still feels a bitter sense of loss by the injury and wished the fledgeling midfielder quick recovery.

“It’s sad that he’s injured, he’s a promising players but we cannot invite an injured player to camp, one thing is certain he has many years ahead of him to serve his fatherland”.

I wish him thequickest of recoveries”, Keshi enthused, adding that Obi will have to be replaced by another player yet to be named.

There are already indications that a new player would be invited in the stead of Obi, as the national team technical crew make last minute adjustments to its team list that is scheduled to be announced any moment from now.

In Tuesday’s morning’s training, 17 players featured instead of 18, as Barnabas Imenger was given an off day to shake off the knock he picked up at his club in the hotel gym. He said later that he feels less pain in his troubled knee and should be back in training by Wednesday.

Heartland’s duo of Obinna Nwachukwu and Daniel Akpeyi, as well as Warri Wolves foursome; Chigozie Agbim, Azubuike Egwueke, Sunday Mba and Ossai Uche, who formed the spine of the national team at the moment were also absent in the morning training due to late arrival from continental club assignments.

But they will be part of Wednesday’s morning training as they arrived camp later to join in the battle for shirts for the trip to Lima, Peru on Saturday.