Defender Semi Ajayi has joined strikers Victor Osimhen and Umar Sadiq on the sidelines, and all three will not be available for the friendly between Algeria and the Super Eagles in Oran on September 27.
Osimhen was found to have a second-degree lesion in his right femoral bicep after limping out of Napoli’s 4-1 UEFA Champions League win over Liverpool last week, and he is expected to be out of action for five to six weeks.
Sadiq’s case is much worse as the Real Sociedad star sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury last Thursday during the 1-0 UEFA Europa League win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
He will undergo surgery, which could rule him out for up to nine months.
Ajayi picked up an ankle injury almost two weeks ago but he had been hopeful of returning to action before next week’s international break.
However, Bruce has confirmed that the Nigeria centre-back will be out for several weeks after undergoing surgery.
“Semi has had an operation. We’ve listened to specialists and they’ve advised us that was the best thing to do going forward,” former Manchester United captain Bruce said as he previewed tonight’s Championship fixture against Birmingham City.
“We’re expecting him to be about another six weeks but these things can change.”
Ajayi played six games for West Brom between July 30 and August 30, and Bruce suggested that the gruelling schedule might have taken a toll on Ajayi and other injured players.
“We knew it was a huge amount of games in a small period of time,” Bruce added.
“We’ve had one or two injuries which have unfortunately for us been serious in that time. Semi has had an operation on his ankle. We felt it was the best forward, so he’ll be another six to eight weeks or so.”
Super Eagles head coach Jose Peseiro is expected to name his squad for the friendly this week.
