Iwobi Cleared To Return For Monday’s EPL Fixture Against Brighton

  Everton of England midfielder, Alex Iwobi is set to make a spirited return from fitness issues in time for next Monday’s English Premier League clash with Brighton & Hove Albion, BSNSports.com.ng reports. This comes after the former Arsenal of England playmaker sat out last weekend’s fixture in the EPL, thereby raising worries that he might have indeed been infected with coronavirus during his trip home to Nigeria for recent international matches. He had been declared COVID-19 positive and knocked out the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier away to Benin Republic, only to be declared negative on his return to Lagos and he was fielded for the last game versus Sierra Leone. Worries that were raised afresh after Iwobi sat out last weekend’s EPL game have now been doused to a large extent by Everton’s coach, Carlo Ancelotti, who disclosed that Iwobi should be available for selection to face Brighton at The American Express Community Stadium on Monday. Ancelotti confirmed that the nephew of former Super Eagles’ captain, Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has already recovered from a minor knock, which ruled him out of The Toffees’ 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace this past Monday. That was The Toffees’ first game after the March international break, but the biggest absentee was Iwobi, who was not involved in the Eagles’ win against Republic of Benin on March 27 due to the positive COVID-19 result. He, however, got a medical clearance to feature in the next game against Lesotho, which the Nigerians won 3-0 at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and another clearance has come for the youngster, who has thrice been left out of Everton’s squads against Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Crystal Palace Palace this season due to fitness issues. Ancelotti, though, has now given the green light for the star’s return to action early next week, as the Italian soccer tactician said: “Alex Iwobi will be available. Jordan Pickford started training this week. He is not 100 per cent and we don’t want to take a risk on in this game.”