CFR Cluj boss Dan Petrescu has expressed his disappointment over the continued absence of Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo, www.aclsports.com reports.
The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations winner joined Cluj on a free transfer last month after leaving Turkish club Kasimpasa. The club saw him as a valuable addition who could add his wealth of experience to the side. However, his continued absence has left a question mark over his availability.
Before Cluj’s Europa League qualifier against Hungary’s Paksi FC that ended in a goalless draw, Petrescu voiced his worries about Omeruo’s fitness levels.
“Omeruo is not ready. I don’t know if you know, but he has a big problem with his knee,” said Petrescu.
“We are trying to solve his problem, we are trying to get him back on his feet. When he trains normally with the team, he will have a chance to play. Until then, he cannot train with the team.”
After parting ways with Kasimpasa earlier this year, Omeruo has dedicated his time to getting back into shape. Even with his extended spell away from football, CFR Cluj president Cristi Balaj remains confident in the choice to add the 31-year-old to their squad.
“He is a player who has 69 appearances for the Nigerian national team. He had a medical situation with his meniscus, but the important thing is to recover and return to full fitness,” Balaj told Liga DigiSport.
“When you are captain of the Nigerian national team, you can’t help but have quality. He plays as a central defender, and if he returns to form, it will be beneficial for everyone.”
Omeruo, who has also featured for the likes of ADO Den Haag, Middlesbrough, and Leganés in the past, moved to Cluj this summer, but the Romanian side will have to be patient with him to see if he can prove his worth on the pitch of play.
