Playmaker Ovie Ejaria expected to be back in action on Nigeria's independence day

NIGERIA-eligible playmaker Ovie Ejaria is expected to return to action in two weeks time as his club manager former England international Paul Ince believes that the end of his long lay-off period is now in sight.

Ejaria, 24, has been out of action for several weeks now, as he last featured for Reading in the 2-1 win over Cardiff City on August 6. However, Royals’ boss Ince has revealed that his playmaker is only two weeks away from a return to action and he expects him to be available for Reading’s home match against Huddersfield on October 1.

Mr Ince said: “In the next two weeks, we’ll probably have Ejaria back, Sarr back, Andy Carroll will be fitter and Long we’ll have to wait and see. Ejaria hopefully is back on the grass this week so hopefully by the time we get to Huddersfield, he’ll be part of the squad.”

Purchased by Liverpool from Arsenal in the summer of 2014, Ejaria was loaned out to Reading and in August 2020, signed a permanent four year deal with the club. Born to Nigerian parents in southeast London, Ejaria is eligible to play for both Nigeria and England but having featured for the English youth team will need to go through a Fifa switch before he can play for the Super Eagles.

As far back as December 2019, Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr urged the Nigeria Football Federation to get Ejaria to switch his allegiance to Nigeria. A creative playmaker, Ejaria is seen as good competition for Alex Iwobi in the Super Eagles.