Former NUFC striker Obafemi Martins’ hopes of making this summer’s World Cup have ended in devastating fashion, with the Nigerian rupturing his quadriceps tendon during a recent game for Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua.
He’s since travelled to the UK for surgery, which is believed to have been a success based on reports today, however the 33-year-old is now facing ‘6-7 months’ on the sidelines.
Last weekend he scored his first career hat-trick for the Chinese Super League side (his 19th goals in just 27 starts), however just days later he was stretchered off with an injury that was initially described as career threatening.
Obafemi Martins' hat trick. @FisayoDairo pic.twitter.com/yesJ4JAyJN
— Gboyega (@mcgboye1) March 31, 2018
This horrific injury initially cast his career into real doubt, with him due to turn 34 before he is back playing football again, however it has also come as a crushing blow for his international hopes, with it ruling him out of the reckoning for Nigeria’s World Cup campaign in Russia this summer.
A real shame for the striker. He was erratic and infuriating to watch following his £10m move from Inter Milan way back in 2006, but he was a player capable of the extraordinary on his day.
We wish him best with his recovery!
Obafemi Martins undergoes successful surgery in UK https://t.co/ewmOZdPN7V via @todayng pic.twitter.com/ZCQN5dh9nt
— Nigeria Newsdesk (@NigeriaNewsdesk) April 9, 2018