Leon Balogun doubtful for Saturday's clash against Croatia after he misses final training session

SUPER Eagles centreback Leon Balogun is a doubt for Nigeria's game against Croatia on Saturday after he picked up a knock which forced him to sit out the team's training session yesterday.

Balogun, who just signed a two year deal with Brighton and Hove Albion  in the English Premier League, was conspicuously missing from the team's last session in Essentuki. Team  sources said he had gone for a scan, the results of which were being awaited as the squad left Essentuki for Kaliningrad today.

In the event that Balogun is unable to start on Saturday, Kenneth Omeruo will be the most likely candidate to step in as replacement, although coach Gernot Rohr has toyed with the idea of a back three. Injury denied Balogun a spot in Nigeria's 2014 World Cup squad after the defender broke his foot on his international debut against Mexico in March of that year.

However, Balogun  returned to the Super Eagles fold a year later and has struck up a strong understanding with William Troost-Ekong at the heart of the defence during Rohr's tenure. Balogun, 29, played his club football with Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, Fortuna Dusseldorf, Darmstadt 98 and Mainz before joining Brighton on a free transfer following the conclusion of last season's Bundesliga campaign.