Tochukwu Nnadi is back in full training for Olympique de Marseille and could return to the starting lineup against Troyes on Sunday at 20:45, following a knee injury sustained in late August against Monaco, La Provence reported. The 23-year-old Nigerian midfielder avoided surgery on his right lateral meniscus, opting instead for a conservative muscle-strengthening protocol.
Tochukwu Nnadi Returns After Knee Injury Recovery
The midfielder has resumed group training without any lingering discomfort after playing a half of a friendly match against Montpellier, according to La Provence. Nnadi suffered the right knee injury in late August during a fixture against Monaco. Rather than undergoing an operation on his external meniscus lesion, medical staff and the player chose a rehabilitation program focused on joint stabilization through muscular reinforcement.
Midfield Shortages Open Door Under Bruno Genesio
Nnadi’s return provides immediate relief for Bruno Genesio as Marseille faces an injury crisis in central midfield ahead of the trip to Troyes. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is sidelined, Himad Abdelli is diminished, and Geoffrey Kondogbia lacks full physical capacities. These absences could hand Nnadi a major opportunity to establish himself after a slow start following his arrival from Zulte Waregem eight months ago for six million euros.
Integration Struggles and National Team Decisions
Since joining Marseille, the Nigerian international has logged just 387 minutes across ten appearances, including four starts in the spring under Habib Beye. Despite his limited playing time, his profile as a recovering midfielder who can provide aggressiveness in recovery could address current weaknesses in the squad’s engine room. Nnadi was pre-selected by Éric Chelle for Nigeria ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers but opted to remain in Marseille to pursue his recovery of form.
Fixture Details and Unresolved Lineup Choices
Marseille travels to face Troyes on Sunday evening at 20:45, with Genesio yet to confirm whether Nnadi will slot straight back into the starting eleven or feature from the bench. While the player has successfully completed his rehabilitation and a run-out against Montpellier, questions remain regarding his match sharpness after more than a month out of competitive action.
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