Benjamin Fredrick: Will Brentford prodigy be available for Super Eagles’ March games?

Super Eagles defender Benjamin Fredrick has returned to partial training at Brentford after three months on the sidelines due to a knee injury, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Fredrick is arguably the brightest young star to have emerged for Nigeria over the past year.

Since making his debut in June 2025, he has quickly established himself as a regular in the Nigerian backline under the tutelage of Eric Chelle.

​The Dender loanee was expected to play a key role in Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign at the turn of the year, but he sustained a knee injury just three weeks before the start of the competition.

At the time, it was confirmed as a knee problem, though the exact nature of the injury was not revealed.

Nevertheless, it appeared serious, as he had to return to his parent club, Brentford, to receive specialized medical attention.

Watch Video of Benjamin Fredrick Training

Step by step👏

Brentford’s #Nigeria international defender Benjamin Fredrick, 20, very close to seeing a return to the pitch after suffering a knee injury during a training session at loan club Dender in November

The 20-yr-old will finish season at the Belgian Pro League side. pic.twitter.com/W3emHkLi1O

— Olúwashínà Òkélèjì (@oluwashina) February 21, 2026

​On Saturday, a video of the 20-year-old defender emerged, courtesy of Nigerian journalist Oluwashina Okeleji.

In the footage, Fredrick was seen doing some pad-work with one of the trainers at Brentford, while being lightheartedly teased by his teammates.

The Super Eagles star appeared visibly fatigued by the drill—a clear indicator that he is yet to attain full match fitness.

​Will Benjamin Fredrick Be Ready To Play For The Super Eagles in March?

​The Super Eagles have a series of friendlies lined up in March. They are scheduled to play Jordan and Iran in a four-nation preparatory tournament ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Meanwhile, there is also a slight possibility that they will participate in the World Cup playoffs, depending on FIFA’s decision regarding a pending case.

​For Benjamin Fredrick, there is only a slim possibility that he will be available for selection for those games.

According to Oluwashina Okeleji, the young defender is “very close to seeing a return to the pitch.”

​However, judging by his body language in the video, he still requires more time before he attains full fitness.

With the March fixtures only four weeks away, it is unlikely that he will be match-ready by then.

Nonetheless, coach Chelle still has adequate cover at the back, as veterans like Semi Ajayi and Calvin Bassey have proven to be reliable options.