Villarreal take on Manchester United on Wednesday night for the Europa League final at the Gdansk Stadium in Poland. And the Yellow Submarine’s manager Unai Emery has confirmed that Samuel Chukwueze has been ruled out of the game.

The Nigeria international was in the traveling party to Poland. But he has failed a fitness test twenty-four hours before the final.

This is the worst possible news for Villareal as Chukwueze has been one of their key players in the Europa League, having contributed to five goals spread across eleven matches.

The Super Eagles star has not figured for the La Liga side since sustaining an injury to the rectus anterior during the first half of the goalless draw against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium nineteen days ago. He hence missed four consecutive matches against Celta de Vigo, Real Valladolid, Sevilla and Real Madrid in the Spanish top-flight.

On Monday evening, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) indicated that all was not well with Chukwueze by omitting him from the finalized roster for the upcoming international friendly against Cameroon.

“Samu has not been able to recover in time from the injury. But Foyth is fully available”. Emery said at the pre-match press conference.

The 22-year-old Chukwueze did not participate in full training with the rest of his Villarreal teammates on Tuesday.