Getafe’s coach sad after dropping Etebo ahead of Real Valladolid’s trip

Getafe’s coach, Jose Bordalas, has expressed his displeasure after dropping Nigeria’s Oghenekaro Etebo from the players he would file out today against Real Valladolid.

The coach said he had no option than to keep the Nigerian at home to nurse his injury.

The Stoke City loanee suffered a muscle injury after breaking his duck in the Spanish top-flight during Saturday’s 1-1 draw against Eibar.

Etebo limped off after 69 minutes of action over the weekend, and he is yet to regain fitness ahead of Tuesday’s visit to Valladolid.

On Monday, Jose Bordalas summoned 21 players for the game at the Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla with the Super Eagles midfielder missing but Togo’s Djene Dakonam, Cameroon’s Allan Nyom, Morocco’s Faycal Fajr and Senegal’s Amath Ndiaye made the selection.

Dakonam and Nyom have made themselves key players in Bordalas’ defence this season, and they will be aiming for their 28th and 29th league appearances respectively.

Fajr and Ndiaye, on the other hand, have struggled for regular game time with the Moroccan making seven league appearances so far while the latter has four games under his belt.

Etebo joined the Deep Blues from Stoke City on a short-term loan in January, and he has played in nine league matches so far, which include six starts.

The 24-year-old’s absence in the middle of the park might be a worry for Getafe who have only lost three games the Nigerian has featured in.

They are fifth in La Liga table with 48 points after 30 games, four points adrift of fourth-placed Sevilla and the Champions League qualification zone.

read also:Etebo to miss Getafe clash against Valladolid with muscle injury

Getafe are yet to win a league match since March 1 with their last four outings ending in three draws and a defeat – against Granada.

Following his strike on Saturday, Etebo became the 21st Nigerian to score in the Spanish top-flight, joining the likes of Ikechukwu Uche, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Odion Ighalo, Obafemi Martins and Rashidi Yekini in the list.