Injury concerns over Nottingham Forest midfielder Cheikhou Kouyate appear to have subsided.
The 32-year-old was stretchered off in Senegal’s first World Cup play on Monday night, raising concerns that he will miss his country’s next two group games. Manager Aliou Cisse, on the other hand, has delivered an encouraging report.
Discussing the state of play ahead of Friday’s clash with hosts Qatar, he said in a press conference relayed by the Senegalese Football Federation’s official Twitter account: “Abdou Diallo resumed training yesterday. He feels very good. We hope that Cheikhou Kouyaté will also be ready.”
Kouyate had been in the starting XI for the 2-0 defeat to the Netherlands. However, a second half collision with Frenkie de Jong left him needing treatment on the pitch before being stretchered off.
After the Group A game, Cisse said the Reds summer signing had twisted his ankle. Sport News Africa later suggested he had suffered a torn thigh and was expected to miss the matches against Qatar and Ecuador.
Kouyate had been in good form for Steve Cooper’s side prior to the break for the tournament. Since making the move to the City Ground as a free agent he has made 13 appearances and found the back of the net in the 3-2 defeat to Bournemouth in September.
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