Record-breaking goalkeeper targeted by Eric Chelle will not make injury return against Wolfsburg

Record-breaking goalkeeper Noah Atubolu will not make his return from injury on Saturday afternoon when SC Freiburg battle VfL Wolfsburg at Volkswagen Arena, manager Julian Schuster confirmed at Thursday's pre-match press conference.  

Schuster highlighted that the dual-national player is on the right track but the trip to Wolfsburg has come too soon for him. 

By posting a clean sheet during Freiburg's goalless draw against RB Leipzig on Saturday, March 8 at the Europa-Park Stadion, Atubolu became the first Freiburg goalkeeper to go 510 minutes without conceding a goal, breaking the previous record held by club legend Richard Golz set in the 2001-2002 season. 

The performances of the Germany U21 international of Nigerian descent have not gone unnoticed as he is being monitored by Nigeria coach Eric Chelle ahead of the resumption of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. 

Although the 22-year-old has not resumed team training since injuring his shoulder at the end of March, he is steadily progressing in his recovery.

"He hasn't started training yet,"Julian Schuster told reporters, according to Liga Insider.

"But he's making positive progress step by step. We're absolutely on target, including in terms of time – and it looks good that he'll be back soon."

Before his spell on the sidelines, Atubolu posted ten clean sheets in twenty-four Bundesliga matches while conceding thirty-three goals.

In the absence of the German-Nigerian goalkeeper, Freiburg have shipped seven goals in three games, although they managed to come out on top in two of them.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com