Udinese Coach Hints Eagles Star Will Be Handed Debut Tomorrow: He Has Played & Scored This Season

Speaking at an ongoing press conference, new Spanish coach of Udinese Julio Velázquez has hinted that he will hand a debut to William Troost-Ekong in their Serie A opener against Parma on Sunday, August 19.

The Bianconeri Friuliani manager noted that the Nigeria international is not lacking fitness as he had played competitively for his previous employer, Bursaspor, before completing his move on Friday.

Troost-Ekong scored his seventh career goal since turning professional against Fenerbahçe last weekend before heading to Italy to join his sixth professional club.

Providing an update on the team news, Velázquez told reporters : "I haven't decided who will start between the sticks tomorrow. I'll mull it over a bit longer.

''William Troost-Ekong is ready to go: he's already played this season and scored too.

''D'Alessandro won't be involved tomorrow as he hasn't been training regularly the last few days. Lukasz Teodorczyk hasn't got 90 minutes in him but he's available.''

Ekong is the third Nigeria national-teamer that was signed by an Italian Serie A team this summer, the others being Joel Obi (Chievo Verona) and Ola Aina (Torino).

Igho Kingsley