The Super Eagles striker, who has three goals in 11 appearances this season, is still recovering from the injury he picked up against KuPS.
Super Eagles striker Paul Onuachu will miss Trabzonspor's UEFA Conference League match against Scottish Premiership side Heart of Midlothian (Hearts) on Thursday evening. Trabzonspor manager Thomas Reis confirmed the Nigerian is still recovering from injury. The Turkish club host Hearts at Papara Park in their third match of the competition.
Onuachu picked up the knock in Trabzonspor's 4-2 win over KuPS last Thursday. He opened the scoring in the third minute and was off seven minutes later, in the 10th. The former Southampton striker, who is 32, missed the league match against Besiktas on Monday after his early exit raised concerns about his fitness.
Reis spoke at Wednesday's pre-match press conference and said the Hearts game would come too early for him:
"For Onuachu, we could say maybe the Rizespor match"
Onuachu could return as early as Monday, 26 October, when Trabzonspor play Rizespor in matchday nine of the Turkish Super Lig. Reis said: "If Onuachu cannot be with us in the Rizespor match, he will be with us in the next match." That next match is Sunday, 1 November, against Gaziantep FK.
Reis also explained that the club keep separate lists for Europe and the league: "Our player lists for Europe and the league are different." The starting line-up for Hearts was to be settled after a training session on Wednesday. "We will make the starting eleven decision after this training session," he added.
Since the start of the season, Onuachu has made 11 appearances in all competitions, starting eight and scoring three goals. Trabzonspor will play Hearts without him, and Reis has said he could return as early as Monday, 26 October, against Rizespor, or on Sunday, 1 November, against Gaziantep FK.
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