Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika quickly put concerns over his fitness to rest after returning to action in the emphatic 6-1 victory against Mechelen at the Jan Breydel Stadium on Wednesday.

Onyedika was initially feared to have sustained a knee injury during Club Brugge’s 2-1 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, following an unfortunate incident in the match.

The Nigeria international was taken off in the second half after showing signs of discomfort, with Hans Vanaken replacing him in the 68th minute.

His early exit raised concerns about his fitness and cast doubt over his availability for the subsequent clash against Mechelen.

However, the FC Ebedei graduate quickly dispelled those fears by returning to action in the game, coming on as a substitute for Serbian midfielder Aleksandar Stanković in the final 18 minutes.

His return will come as a major boost for both Club Brugge head coach Ivan Leko and Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle.

Leko will be pleased to have the midfielder back as Brugge push to reclaim the league title, while Chelle will also welcome his availability ahead of the Unity Cup and upcoming international friendlies against Portugal and Poland.

Onyedika has remained a key figure for both club and country. The former FC Midtjylland midfielder has registered three goals and two assists in 39 appearances for Club Brugge this season.

He also impressed on the international stage, scoring twice in Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Adeyemi Adewale