Atalanta sweating over Lookman’s fitness

According to Italian publication, Football News24, Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini is eagerly sweating over the return of Nigeria international Ademola Lookman as he hopes to be able to have the forward back as soon as possible, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Prior to his injury in April, Lookman was unarguably Atalanta’s best forward having scored 13 goals and assisted five in 28 Serie A matches.

Despite just arriving in the summer from RB Leipzig, the Nigerian is the club’s top scorer.

Lookman’s brilliant season was however blighted by a biceps femoris muscle injury he picked up in the game against Bologna on April 8.

The Super Eagles forward had since missed the Black and Blues’ last five matches.

Though the 25-year-old has returned to training, he has not been declared fit by the club doctors but Gasperini is hoping he can have the forward available for this weekend’s clash against Salernitana.

“An absence that is anything but significant for Atalanta is certainly that of Ademola Lookman: the new face of the Bergamo attack, the team’s current top scorer, is going through a period of sharp decline due to a muscle problem that keeps him to the pits,” Football News24 wrote.

“The Nigerian is out for distractive sequelae in the distal third of the right hamstring, Gasperini hopes to be able to have him back as soon as possible.

“However, uncertainty remains as to when Lookman ‘s return to the field will actually take place: the attacker still feels annoyed and has not yet resumed training with the group, limiting himself to individual work in the last training sessions.”