Pendle Insurance midfielder Divine Nwachukwu is eyeing a return to the Nigerian Premier League after returning from the injury that has kept him out since the end of last season, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 20-year-old has been ruled out with a thigh injury and has been out of action for Arsenal Benin until the last three matches.
After missing the CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers and his first 14 matches of the season, he came on as a substitute and played 24 minutes in the 1-0 win over Abia Warriors in Round 15, adding 45 minutes to his belt in Round 1. Draw -1 against Rivers United in Port Harcourt while He also played 36 minutes in a 2-0 win over Enugu Rangers in Round 17.
“It’s amazing to be back after a very long injury that kept me out for several months. It was very difficult for me while I was undergoing rehabilitation and I can’t even explain how I feel after being back in the team. I’m starting to start,” Nwachukwu told PUNCH Sports Extra. “Gradually coming off the bench and I hope to start matches as soon as possible.”
The player is looking to make the most of the remainder of his second season in the NFL after his outstanding performance last season. He was an important part of their unprecedented 21-game unbeaten run in the league as well as the FA Cup title, scoring one goal and providing five assists in the regular season.
Bendel Insurance currently sit sixth in the NPFL table with 27 points from 17 matches heading into their Round 18 away match against Bayelsa United.
Last season, he also scored three goals during the Super 6 qualifiers which saw him join Jose Peseiro’s 23-man squad for Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Sierra Leone.
The 20-year-old has risen through the ranks of Nigerian football, representing the country at U-15 and U-17 levels between 2017 and 2019.
He made five appearances as a substitute in the 2019 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Tanzania and the U-17 World Cup in Brazil.
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