Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman will be unavailable for selection as Atalanta and Sassuolo go head-to-head at the Gewiss Stadium, marking the 25th round of matches in the Serie A.
Lookman, who distinguished himself as one of the top performers for the Super Eagles during the recently-concluded 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024), arrived back in Italy on Wednesday following his participation in the tournament held in Ivory Coast while representing Nigeria.
At 26, Lookman netted three goals during the AFCON, contributing to Nigeria's second-place finish behind host nation Ivory Coast.
Subsequently, the Atalanta player earned a spot in the Confederation of African Football's Team of the Tournament.
What happened to Ademola Lookman?
Reports from the Italian media indicate that Lookman sustained a sprained left ankle, a condition that became apparent upon his return to the Bortolotti Center in Zingonia.
The Super Eagles star received treatment on Thursday and is expected to be sidelined for the upcoming match against Sassuolo.
However, if his recovery progresses as expected, he could potentially make a return to action against AC Milan on February 25 or Inter Milan on February 28 after a projected two-week layoff.
Atalanta have performed admirably in Lookman's absence, securing seven victories and a draw in eight matches across all competitions.
Lookman's stats for Atalanta before leaving for AFCON
Before departing for the AFCON, Lookman had appeared in 23 matches for Atalanta across various competitions this season. He had 10 direct goal involvements, scoring seven times with three assists.
Since joining Atalanta from RB Leipzig in August 2022, Lookman has been a pivotal figure in Gian Piero Gasperini’s squad, consistently showcasing his significance to the team this season.
During his international duty with the Super Eagles in Ivory Coast, Lookman was absent for six Serie A matches. As it stands, Atalanta are placed fourth on the league table with 42 points.
Even though Lookman was absent for several matches, the Super Eagles player remains Atalanta's leading goal scorer of the season.
He is closely followed by players such as Charles de Ketelaere, Teun Koopmeiners, and Gianluca Scamacca, each with six goals to their name.
