Corberan shares Semi Ajayi update after ‘strange situation’ for West Brom star
Carlos Corberan has revealed that Semi Ajayi will return to West Brom training on Thursday, October 17, after being stuck in Libya.
Ajayi and his Nigeria teammates were held in an airport for over 12 hours without basic amenities after they arrived for their game against Libya on Monday (14 October).
The ordeal resulted in the Super Eagles boycotting the match and Corberan has now revealed that West Brom were in touch with Ajayi at the time.
“The club was in contact. It was not easy, we have to adapt to the situation”, Corberan was quoted as saying by Express and Star (16 October).
“It is true that he didn’t have the minutes that normally he usually is getting when travelling but at the same time he was having minutes before he went.
“It has been a strange situation but something that is totally out of our control.
“What we can do is to adapt and find the best way to help him to recover and make him ready for the game. That is what we can control.”
Corberan added that Ajayi, along with Paddy McNair and Mason Holgate, with resume training with the Baggies on Thursday.
“Thursday we will start to work with Semi Ajayi and Paddy McNair and Mason Holgate”, he said.
West Brom star Semi Ajayi could miss Oxford United trip
While Corberan will be glad to have Ajayi back, it remains to be seen if the centre-back can be ready in time for Saturday’s (19 October) trip to Oxford United.
The 30-year-old has barely had any action after leaving on international duty two weeks ago, racking up only three minutes after coming as a late substitute in Nigeria’s 1-0 win over Libya in the reverse fixture on 11 October.
Furthermore, the ordeal in Libya, coupled with the travel to England, might have fatigued the former Cardiff City defender.
According to Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong (14 October), the players were deprived of food and drinks after arriving in Libya earlier this week.
Such a situation would no doubt have an impact on a player’s fitness and it is unclear if Ajayi can recover from that before Saturday.
Having started all of West Brom’s nine Championship games this season, Ajayi will be a huge miss if he misses the trip to Oxford.
In other West Brom news, Don Goodman has been pleased with this Baggies star’s recent comments.
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