Fears grow that Iwobi might miss Unity Cup after he picks up hamstring injury

SUPER Eagles playmaker Alex Iwobi is now almost certain to miss out of the forthcoming Unity Cup taking place in London later this month after being stretchered off in the first half of a league match against Brentford yesterday.

Iwobi, 29, has established himself as the heartbeat of Nigeria's midfield over recent years, providing the team with most of its creativity. A key player for both club and country, he was taken off yesterday by Fulham in the 43th minute of their 0-0 draw away to neighbours Brentford with a hamstring injury.

His early exit sparked immediate worry among fans and pundits alike, with some fearing Iwobi might be out for the remainder of the season. His absence could also affect Fulham's quest for a European qualification place as they are currently only three points off the top six places which guarantees continental football.

Fulham manager, Marco Silva has, however, been optimistic about the injury, admitted there was initial concern about the severity of it but suggested early signs were not overly alarming. He added that while the situation is still being assessed, the club will need to wait for further medical checks over the next 24 to 48 hours before determining the full extent of the problem.

Mr Silva said: “You always think about the worst possible scenario but he’s not feeling too much pain right now. It doesn’t look like a serious hamstring injury but the next few hours, probably tomorrow or in two days’ time, will give a clearer picture of the situation and of course for us to analyse and assess his availability for the next games.”

He stressed the importance of the former Arsenal midfielder to his squad, particularly at a crucial stage of the season where Fulham are managing a demanding fixture schedule and fitness concerns. Mr Silva expressed hope that the injury would not rule Iwobi out for an extended period, highlighting his influence both on and off the ball.

Between May 26 and 30, the Unity Cup will take place in London with Nigeria participating alongside Jamaica, Zimbabwe and India. Taking place at The Valley, the home ground of English Championship side Charlton Athletic, the tournament will see Nigeria trying to defend the trophy she won last year after defeating Jamaica on penalties following a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

It is now looking like Iwobi will certainly miss out on this tournament. Then, the Nigerian Football Federation is involved in negotiations for the Eagles to face Poland on June 3 at in Warsaw and World Cup-bound Portugal on June 10 and it is hoped that Iwobi will be fit enough to return to action by then.

Commenting on Sky Sports during the match, former Newcastle United goalkeeper, Shay Given, however, expressed fears that the injury could rule Iwobi out for the remainder of the campaign. He said: “You know it’s something serious when the referee calls on the medical team.

“It is so frustrating. You know you do everything by the book and that’s just part and parcel of football. Injuries come along but at this time of the season, you may not see Alex again this season.”