Senegal have received a timely boost ahead of their international preparations as vice-captain Idrissa Gana Gueye is now fully fit and available for selection after recovering from injury that kept him out of action for over six weeks.
The experienced midfielder last featured for his club, Everton, on April 25 in a 2-1 Premier League defeat to West Ham United, before picking up a training-ground injury that sidelined him for an extended period.
Since then, the 36-year-old has not played a competitive match, raising concerns over his availability for national duty.
However, recent medical assessments have brought positive news for both club and country.
Tests conducted on the veteran midfielder have ruled out any serious or lingering damage from the initial injury.
The results have cleared him for a full return to training with the Senegal squad, where he has been participating normally over the past week.
Gueye’s return is particularly significant for Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, as the midfield anchor brings leadership, experience, and defensive stability to the Lions of Teranga.
His presence is expected to be crucial as Senegal continue their build-up to upcoming high-profile fixtures.
The midfielder is now in line to feature in Senegal’s second and final warm-up match against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday evening at 11:00 PM GMT.
While the coaching staff have not completely ruled out the possibility of a starting role, indications suggest a more cautious approach.
He is more likely to be introduced in the second half, allowing him to gradually regain full match sharpness ahead of potentially starting in Senegal’s next major test against France.
Gueye’s return will be welcomed by fans and teammates alike, as Senegal look to fine-tune their squad with one of their most dependable midfield figures back in contention at a crucial stage of preparations.
