Victor Osimhen will be part of a strong Galatasaray squad to face Fenerbahce – President Dursun Özbek

Galatasaray President Dursun Özbek says Victor Osimhen will be part of a strong squad for Monday’s Istanbul derby against Fenerbahce, confirming the striker’s timely recovery from injury.

His assurance comes as the club looks to respond after their narrow Champions League defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise.

Özbek indicated that Galatasaray will welcome back several injured players for the fixture at Sukru Saracoglu Stadium.

His comments signal a major boost for the champions, who need a positive result to retain their position at the top of the Turkish Super Lig table.

Osimhen has been sidelined since sustaining a hamstring injury while on international duty with Nigeria.

He was withdrawn at half-time during the Super Eagles’ meeting with DR Congo in Morocco and later underwent scans that revealed a moderate muscle strain.

Initial projections suggested he would be unavailable for three weeks, with a return expected shortly before Nigeria’s AFCON preparations.

The forward endured further disappointment on the international stage as he watched from the bench during Nigeria’s failed bid to qualify for the next World Cup, a defeat sealed in a tense penalty shoot-out.

Despite that setback, Osimhen has progressed faster than anticipated. Özbek’s update indicates that the striker has completed his recovery ahead of schedule, placing him in contention for selection for the high-stakes derby.

“Osimhen’s supposed to be on the roster on Monday, I guess,” said Özbek, who also confirmed the availability of returning defenders. “We’re going to the field with a great team.”

Galatasaray enter the derby just one point ahead of Fenerbahce, who are pushing hard under Domenico Tedesco.

Victory will be crucial for the champions, whose domestic form has been strong but who cannot afford a slip in one of the season’s most significant fixtures.