Wilfred Ndidi has been named in Besiktas’ squad for their rescheduled Super Lig opener against Kayserispor, marking his return from injury.
The Nigerian midfielder had been sidelined after sustaining a knock during Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier away to South Africa, where he was substituted in the 70th minute. His absence forced him to miss consecutive league fixtures against Basaksehir and Goztepe, sparking fears of a lengthy layoff.
Besiktas confirmed at the weekend that the summer signing had resumed full training, easing concerns among supporters. The club revealed that Ndidi rejoined sessions just a day after missing their 3-0 defeat away to Goztepe.
Head coach Sergen Yalçın, who returned to the club in August following Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s dismissal, included Ndidi in the travelling party for Wednesday’s clash. He was listed alongside senior players such as Gabriel Paulista, Rafa Silva, and Tammy Abraham.
Yalçın also handed first-time call-ups to academy talents Tuna Baran Demir, Asım Efe Işık, and Devrim Şahin. “These youngsters were included in the squad for the first time,” Yalçın confirmed in the official announcement.
Since joining from Leicester City in the summer, Ndidi has quickly established himself as a key figure in midfield, already featuring in four matches — including his league debut in the 2-1 win over Eyüpspor and both legs of the Europa Conference League qualifiers against Lausanne Sport. He also started in the 2-0 loss to Alanyaspor before the international break.
Besiktas, currently 11th in the table with six points from four games and two matches in hand, will be banking on Ndidi’s presence to bolster their midfield as they aim to close the 12-point gap on leaders Galatasaray.
Wednesday’s fixture also represents a crucial test for Yalçın, the only man to have won the Super Lig with Besiktas both as a player and as a manager.
