Manchester City's teenage Nigerian striker faces months on the sidelines after surgery

Published: October 26, 2021

Allnigeriasoccer.com can exclusively report that Manchester City's Nigerian striker Tai Sodje will be out of action until 2022 after undergoing surgery.

Tai Sodje, the nephew of retired Super Eagles defenders Sam and Efe Sodje, had been playing through the pain barrier for most part of the new season and aggravated an ankle injury during Manchester City's UEFA Youth League match against Paris Saint-Germain exactly four weeks ago.

Four days after the match against the Parisians, the 18-year-old was named in the starting lineup vs Derby County in the Premier League 2, lasting around one hour on the pitch before he was replaced.

Tai Sodje fears he will not be in his best physical condition until April 2022, the business end of the Premier League 2 season.

The versatile striker, who can also play on the left and right wings, made a splash in his maiden season in the U18 Premier League, leading to his promotion to Manchester City's development squad before the start of the 2021-2022 campaign as well as signing his first professional contract.

Sodje was Manchester City's top scorer in the U18 Premier League last term with 19 goals from 22 appearances, and has picked up where he left off last season by netting four in eight games combined in the Premier League 2 and UEFA Youth League.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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