Onuachu to miss Trabzonspor's Hearts clash, could return against Rizespor

Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu will sit out Trabzonspor's UEFA Conference League match against Heart of Midlothian on Thursday night, coach Thomas Reis has confirmed.

The Turkish club host the Scottish side at Papara Park in their third game of the European campaign. Onuachu is not available for it.

The 32-year-old picked up the injury last Thursday in Trabzonspor's 4-2 win over Finnish side KuPS. He scored the opening goal in the third minute but was taken off seven minutes later, according to reports.

The setback also kept him out of Monday's league meeting with Besiktas.

When he could be back

Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Reis said the Hearts game comes too soon for the forward. He pointed to Monday, October 26, when Trabzonspor face Rizespor in the Turkish Super Lig, as a possible return date.

"For Onuachu, we could say maybe the Rizespor match," Reis said.

If Onuachu is not fit in time for that trip, Reis left the door open for a comeback against Gaziantep FK on Sunday, November 1.

The coach also said the Hearts fixture is too early for Mustafa's return, and that he would decide his starting eleven after the team's final training session.

Onuachu has been a key part of Trabzonspor's season so far, with eight starts in 11 appearances across all competitions and three goals.

Why it matters for Nigerian fans

Onuachu is one of the Super Eagles' main strikers, and his fitness is watched closely at home. A short absence from club football is less worrying than a long one, and Reis's timeline suggests he should be back within days rather than weeks.

For Trabzonspor, losing him for a European night is a blow, but the bigger test is the league run that follows.

What happens next: Trabzonspor play Hearts on Thursday night without Onuachu. His return could come at Rizespor on Monday, or at the latest against Gaziantep on November 1.