Anderlecht coach, Hein Vanhaezebrouck has dismissed reports that suggested that he was to blame for Gernot Rohr’s decision to drop Henry Onyekuru from Nigeria’s preliminary World Cup roster.
The Everton loanee resumed training in April but was not given a run-out in Anderlecht’s matches in the Belgian First Division A playoffs due to question marks surrounding his fitness.
”The player’s camp says he’s not at the World Cup because of us? It’s easy to say that it’s Anderlecht’s fault, but it’s been repeated how many times before his injury,” Vanhaezebrouck told reporters at Friday’s press conference.
”I know Nigeria players who have a lot of caps and were not selected. Kara did not play a lot, but he was called up by Senegal because Henry has yet to prove anything with Nigeria and his non-selection is also linked to his injury.”
The Nigeria international played two reserve team matches against Standard Liege and Sporting Lokeren, and Vanhaezebrouck has explained further the Nigerian was afraid to tackle.
”He played half an hour then an hour with the reserves, we saw he’s not ready yet, he’s afraid to make tackles, everyone at the club has seen him,” added Vanhaezebrouck.
Onyekuru missed training with a stomach flu this week and is doubtful to be named in the Anderlecht squad for their final game of the season against Genk on Sunday.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
