Bursaspor head coach Mustafa Er has played down fears over Kelechi Iheanacho’s fitness after the Nigerian striker was substituted during Sunday’s 4-2 victory over Keçiörengücü.
Iheanacho received treatment from the medical team before leaving the pitch in the 69th minute, raising concerns among supporters of the Turkish 1. Lig leaders.
However, Er explained that the decision to withdraw the forward was precautionary, as the club did not want to risk aggravating his problem.
“Kelechi has a little problem. We did not want to push too hard,” Er said, according to Turkish publication Bursahakimiyet.
“He wanted to continue, but we did not want to risk it. We were already ahead 4-2, and we had the score.”
The 30-year-old had earlier put Bursaspor ahead in the second half, scoring in the 50th minute to make it 3-2.
He collected the ball near the edge of the penalty area, created space for himself and fired into the net to restore his side’s advantage.
The goal extended Iheanacho’s scoring streak to 12 consecutive league matches and took his tally to 16 goals and three assists in 12 appearances this season.
Bursaspor subsequently secured all three points, with Lewis Baker and Brazilian midfielder Lincoln also contributing to the victory.
The result marked the club’s third consecutive league win and their fourth in five matches, moving them to the top of the 1. Lig table with 28 points from 12 games.
Bursaspor will host Bandırmaspor on Saturday, with Er hoping the Nigerian forward will be available for the encounter.
Iheanacho’s fitness will also be of interest to the Super Eagles, with Nigeria preparing for their November fixtures against Tanzania in the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.
The former Leicester City and Manchester City striker has enjoyed an impressive start to life at Bursaspor, making his goalscoring form an important asset for the club.
Er’s comments suggest the substitution was intended to protect the forward rather than indicate a serious injury. However, Iheanacho’s condition ahead of Saturday’s match will provide a clearer indication of his availability.
