Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Super Eagles midfielder will undergo medical tests to determine the extent of the injury he sustained during Lazio’s Serie A derby clash against AS Roma on Sunday.
The 24-year-old started the high-profile Derby della Capitale under manager Maurizio Sarri, but his evening ended prematurely. After just 14 minutes on the pitch, Dele-Bashiru appeared to pull up with a thigh problem. And was immediately replaced by Moroccan youngster Reda Belahyane.
Interestingly, the Nigerian had already raised fitness concerns before the derby. Reports in Italy revealed that Dele-Bashiru skipped Friday’s training due to a muscle issue. However, Lazio’s medical team cleared him for selection after a late fitness assessment. Unfortunately, the decision backfired as he lasted less than a quarter of an hour.
Lazio clearly felt his absence as the game progressed. Roma midfielder Lorenzo Pellegrini struck in the 38th minute to hand the hosts a 1-0 defeat at the Stadio Olimpico. Extending Lazio’s frustrating run of results.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Dele-Bashiru is now scheduled for further examinations to determine the severity of his setback. If he fails to recover in time, Belahyane is expected to step into the starting XI for next Monday’s clash against Genoa.
This injury comes at a crucial time for Dele-Bashiru. Despite not being a consistent favorite of Sarri, the Nigerian midfielder has enjoyed regular game time this season, largely due to Lazio’s transfer ban which prevented summer reinforcements. The Roma fixture was his fourth consecutive appearance of the campaign.
Sarri had reportedly considered benching Dele-Bashiru after his underwhelming display against Sassuolo. However, with the midfielder sidelined, the coach may have little choice but to turn to Belahyane, who will be eager to prove himself and stake a claim in the squad.
