Chidera Ejuke faces reduced playing time at Sevilla, as club gets important injury update

Super Eagles winger Chidera Ejuke could see his playing time at Sevilla reduced following the return of his primary positional rival, Ruben Vargas, from a long-term injury, Afrik-Foot reports.

​Ejuke has been a consistent squad player for coach Matias Almeyda this season, featuring in 21 matches across all competitions and contributing one goal and one assist.

However, the 28-year-old has struggled to cement a place in the starting XI. 15 of his 19 La Liga appearances have come off the bench due to the intense competition within the squad.

​Almeyda’s tactical system usually accommodates only two natural wingers, leaving a host of forwards—including Alexis Sánchez, Neal Maupay, Isaac Romero, Peque, and Adnan Januzaj—battling for limited minutes.

​Nonetheless, since his arrival from Augsburg last year, Vargas has been the best of the rest, as he has made a significant impact at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.

While Ejuke began last season as a regular starter on the left flank, Vargas quickly usurped him, making the position his own through his higher offensive output.

​The Swiss international was a mainstay for Los Nervionenses at the start of the current campaign until a hamstring injury in November sidelined him for four months.

​Vargas Back to Challenge Chidera Ejuke

​After a lengthy rehabilitation process, videos emerged on Friday showing Vargas training at full capacity with his teammates.

His return to fitness suggests he could be in the matchday squad as early as this weekend’s fixture against Rayo Vallecano.

​For Ejuke, the return of a teammate is a boost for the club but a complication for his personal goals. While the Nigerian has a bag of tricks and has speed to burn, he has often been criticized for a lack of end product—the specific area where Vargas tends to excel.

This season, Vargas has three goals and four assists in just 13 league games. So as Sevilla push for a strong finish to the season, Almeyda will likely favor the most productive options.

However, if Ejuke can translate his flair into consistent form during training, he remains a potent weapon for the manager to utilize.