Victor Osimhen has been urged to exercise patience as he works to rediscover his best form following an injury lay-off, with former Fenerbahce forward Bülent Uygun questioning the Nigerian striker’s physical sharpness and decision-making since his return to action for Galatasaray.
The 27-year-old forward has struggled to reproduce the goalscoring form that made him one of the Turkish champions’ most influential players earlier in the season, prompting Uygun to suggest that he needs more time to regain full fitness and confidence.
Osimhen suffered a groin strain during Galatasaray’s 3-2 victory over Istanbul Başakşehir in September, an injury that forced him to miss three consecutive club matches, including the Champions League encounter against Sporting Lisbon.
The setback also ruled him out of Nigeria’s October international fixtures against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar as the Super Eagles continued their preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Before the injury, Osimhen had enjoyed an impressive start to the campaign, recording six goals and two assists in his opening four Turkish Super Lig appearances. His absence consequently left Galatasaray without one of their most dangerous attacking options.
The striker eventually returned on October 9, coming off the bench in Galatasaray’s 3-1 victory over Kasımpaşa. Although he was given limited playing time, he made an immediate contribution by providing the assist for Mario Lemina’s late goal to seal the win.
However, the encouraging return has not yet translated into a resurgence in front of goal. Osimhen failed to score in Galatasaray’s subsequent 4-1 Champions League defeat away to Barcelona on October 13 and was again unable to find the net during their 1-0 league victory over Gençlerbirliği on October 17.
Uygun believes the striker’s difficulties extend beyond his inability to score, arguing that his physical coordination and behaviour on the pitch suggest he has yet to recover his previous sharpness.
The former Fenerbahce player, who also managed Sivasspor, pointed to Osimhen’s struggles when presented with scoring opportunities, suggesting that the forward’s eagerness to make an immediate impact may be working against him.
According to Uygun, Osimhen has appeared frustrated with his teammates and has attempted to do too much since returning from injury, rather than allowing himself sufficient time to rebuild his rhythm.
He also highlighted the striker’s difficulty maintaining proper footwork when attempting to convert chances, attributing the problem to his recent absence from competitive football.
Uygun’s assessment raises questions about the pressure surrounding Osimhen’s return, particularly given the expectations attached to a striker who has established himself as one of Africa’s leading footballers.
Nevertheless, a short run without goals does not necessarily indicate a serious decline in ability. For a forward returning from a groin injury, restoring match fitness, timing and confidence can require several appearances, especially when facing demanding domestic and European fixtures.
Galatasaray’s handling of Osimhen’s comeback has already reflected the need for caution. Assistant coach İrfan Saraloğlu previously explained that the club had to protect the striker following his recovery, carefully managing his playing time rather than immediately returning him to a full workload.
That approach suggests the Turkish champions recognise the importance of allowing their leading forward to recover gradually, particularly with a demanding schedule requiring contributions across multiple competitions.
For Osimhen, the immediate challenge is to turn his promising return assist into consistent attacking performances while avoiding the temptation to rush his recovery. His movement, link-up play and ability to create opportunities remain important aspects of his contribution, even when goals are not forthcoming.
Galatasaray will hope that patience and carefully managed playing time will help the Nigerian regain the sharpness that characterised his early-season performances.
While Uygun’s concerns highlight the difficulties Osimhen has encountered since returning from injury, the coming matches will offer a clearer indication of whether the striker is beginning to rediscover his best form.
For now, the message is straightforward: Osimhen needs time to rebuild his rhythm, and Galatasaray must balance the desire for immediate results with the importance of protecting one of their most valuable attacking players.
