Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, has said Bordeaux winger Samuel Kalu did not have enough family support, while he struggled with a recurring thigh injury this season.
Kalu’s season has been disrupted by setbacks, but he has still managed four goals and one assists in 20 league fixtures.
The 23-year-old first picked up the injury in October which kept him out of action for a month. He tried returning to action against Rennes on November 20, but he suffered a relapse a week later and he was on the sidelines until January.
Since January 1, Kalu has suffered the thigh injury three times – February, March and mostly recently as a fortnight ago.
“We had invited him for Nigeria’s last game, and the Girondins told us no, that they needed him to save themselves,” Rohr was quoted by Girondins 4 ever.
“And then he got hurt. They finally sent him to Nigeria anyway, so it was kind of weird. Still, the boy has a lot of injuries this year, I hope he is well supervised on all levels, mentally, medically and sportingly.
“Every time he plays with me he’s good, but it’s true that this season has been rotten with injuries. I hope he can help the Girondins for the end of the season. I rely on him a lot. We communicate quite often. He’s sorry. He was also a bit lonely without his family in Bordeaux. He lacked a little family support. But it’s going to get better and better.”