Onyedika Still Regaining Fitness — Club Brugge Coach Hayen

Mid‐fielder Raphael Onyedika is still not at full fitness according to his coach Nicky Hayen of Club Brugge. The Nigeria international sustained a hamstring injury in the match against Westerlo last month and was sidelined for seven games across all competitions.

He made his return in the game versus Dender (football), featuring for 26 minutes only. Hayen stated:

“Thirty minutes was the maximum for him … Can he start against FC Barcelona? To make that decision, we have to see what the impact is and how he feels. I can already say that it’s out of the question for him to play 90 minutes. That’s too big a step in terms of intensity.”

Onyedika’s return is welcomed, but the club is clear: he must rebuild match fitness and will not yet be entrusted with full matches.

Editorial

In the elite tier of European football, fitness is more than simply being available it is about being capable. Raphael Onyedika’s status at Club Brugge is emblematic of that distinction. After sustaining a hamstring injury, his brief return was less a sprint forward and more a measured step.

Coach Nicky Hayen’s caution is telling. The suggestion that a 90-minute return is “out of the question” reveals the fine margins that govern a midfielder’s readiness. For Onyedika regarded as one of Nigeria’s promising order‐makers the injury hiatus presents a dual challenge: recovering physical rhythm and regaining the trust of the rhythm of competition.

More than anything, this is about strategy. Brugge must balance ambition (European competition, domestic league) with prudence (player longevity, form). For Nigeria’s national team, this is pertinent the Super Eagles will rely on Onyedika not just to be fit, but to be effective. Nigeria’s midfield past has often echoed with potential unfulfilled; here is a player whose form matters.

His return for 26 minutes is a milestone but also a reminder that football’s momentum cares little for excitement alone. The body must follow the mind; the minutes must follow the training. If Onyedika phases back gradually, he may emerge not just whole, but better attuned to the demands of top-level competition.

This period of caution should not be viewed as hindrance but as investment. For Onyedika personally, it is a moment to reflect, adjust and return stronger. For Brugge, it is about utilising a key asset without jeopardising the broader campaign. For Nigerian football, it is the reminder that talent matters but readiness determines when that talent can be unleashed.

In football, every injury is a pause in one story and the start of another. Onyedika’s next chapter begins now not when the fandom cheers, but when his legs match his mind, when his minutes carry purpose and when the green and white call finds him not just fit, but formidable.

Did You Know?

1. Raphael Onyedika joined Club Brugge in 2022 from the Danish side FC Midtjylland, and quickly became a key start in the Belgian Pro League.
2. The hamstring injury Onyedika suffered came after only 16 minutes in the match against Westerlo, and he was out of action for around six weeks.
3. Onyedika has featured for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and is seen as part of their midfield future his club’s fitness management therefore has national implications.
4. Club Brugge head coach Nicky Hayen has previously praised Onyedika’s fitness levels and work ethic, making this recovery period all the more pragmatic in his planning.
5. A hamstring injury is one of the most common soft-tissue problems for professional footballers, often requiring a careful phased re-introduction to full training and match minutes to minimise relapse.