Argentina Sweating On Fitness Of Four Key Players Including Man City Star Otamendi

Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli is sweating on the fitness of four players he has included on the roster for the upcoming international games against Russia and Nigeria.

Despite naming a final 26-man list for both meetings on Thursday, November 2, TYC Sports has suggested that Sampaoli could still make some adjustments to that list, with four players doubtful on account of injury.

The four players, whose participation remains covered in mist, are Manchester City star Nicolás Otamendi, Sevilla duo Ever Banega and Gabriel Mercado, and Atalanta's Alejandro Gómez.

City doctors want to operate on Otamendi, Banega has a contracture, Mercado had to be replaced in the 83rd minute of Sevilla's Champions League clash versus Spartak Moscow after picking up a knock and Gomez has a finger injury.

Angel Correa (Atlético de Madrid), Emmanuel Mammana (Zenit) and Ignacio Fernandez (River ) have been placed on standby to replace these four players that are doubtful to be on the plane to Russia.

As for Nigeria, defender Leon Balogun (cheekbone fracture) and John Ogu (quadriceps injury ) are not in tip-top condition at the moment.

As a result of the ailments they are recovering from, the Mainz star and Hapoel Beer Sheva midfielder were unused substitutes against Eintracht Frankfurt and Steaua Bucharest respectively.

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : sevillafc.es