Joe Aribo is doubtful for Nigeria’s friendly match against the Selacao of Brazil after picking up a head injury in Glasgow Rangers’ 1-0 League Cup win against Livingston on Wednesday night.
The midfielder suffered a horror head injury following a strong challenge from Livingston’s Steven Davis and was replaced by Ricki Lamie.
Rangers manager Steven Gerrard told a news conference on Thursday morning ahead of his side’s Saturday’s home clash against Aberdeen that Aribo will spend few days on the sidelines due to the setback.
” I spoke to Joe (Aribo) this morning, he is pretty sore and shocked, but he is okay. After getting 20 stitches in his head he is okay, the doctors did a fantastic job on him as he was cut all the way to the bone. The doctor will decide in the coming days when he will back,” Gerrard told reporters.
“He will definitely miss the game at the weekend and potentially the next few after this. I don’t think the player has gone in to intentionally hurt him, but that in my book is serious dangerous play and in any other league it is a red card.
”I will be very surprised if we see Aribo play before the International break, it is his first time out of London and he has settled very well. This will be a setback but knowing him he will bounce back, he didn’t even want to come off yesterday which shows his mentality.”
Aribo scored on his debut for Nigeria in a friendly game against Ukraine early this month at the Dnipro Arena.
The 23-year-old is expected to be called up for the highly anticipated friendly against Brazil by Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr but it remain to be seen if he will be fit enough for the match.
Nigeria’s friendly against the five-time world champions will take at the National Stadium, Singapore on October 13.
