‘They need to get him back’ - Ex-EPL striker claims Osimhen’s absence caused Galatasaray’s loss in UCL

The Lions suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Royale Union SG on Tuesday in the fifth round of the Champions League.

Osimhen has been sidelined for Galatasaray's last two matches after picking up a minor hamstring injury while representing Nigeria during the recent international break. 

The star forward was unavailable for their Super Lig clash with Gençlerbirliği and was also forced to sit out the crucial European fixture at Rams Park.

Speaking on CBS Sports Golazo, Troy Deeney, who netted 47 Premier League goals during his time at Watford, emphasised just how much Galatasaray misses their star player.

"You just can't underplay his importance to the team," Deeney stated. "Yes, they've got Lemina and other players that add other elements, but Osimhen is one of the top five strikers in world football."

He added, "If you don’t have someone like that, you can’t just pull anybody from the bench. Without Osimhen, they’ve lost a big part; they need to get him back as soon as possible."

Galatasaray struggled to find a cutting edge against their Belgian opponents. Mauro Icardi, leading the line in Osimhen's place, was unable to make a significant impact, and the home side ultimately fell on the night.

The defeat showed Galatasaray's reliance on the Nigerian international. The team has won every Champions League match in which Osimhen has featured this season, while losing both games he has missed.

Osimhen currently leads the UEFA Champions League scoring charts with an impressive six goals in just three appearances and is also Galatasaray's top scorer overall this season.