Kaizer Chiefs

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 25: Dumisani Zuma and Lebogang Manyama of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

Kaizer Chiefs injury update: Three stars still sidelined

Kaizer Chiefs are still without three high-profile players through injury ahead of the weekend while Lebogang Manyama nears full fitness.

Kaizer Chiefs

DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA – JANUARY 25: Dumisani Zuma and Lebogang Manyama of Kaizer Chiefs during the Absa Premiership match between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Moses Mabhida Stadium on January 25, 2020 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Darren Stewart/Gallo Images)

Kaizer Chiefs coach Stuart Baxter has provided an update on the injury front for the club.

Very little has changed through the week, with Lebogang Manyama inching closer to a full return but not yet ready to start against Royal AM this weekend.

Kaizer Chiefs injury update

Baxter also revealed that strikers Leonardo Castro and Dumisani Zuma remain firmly on the injured list and it is unclear when they may return to action.

The coach further shed light on the ongoing recovery of Siyabonga Ngezana who underwent surgery following an injury in the Caf Champions League final. Baxter told reporters that the defender was still unable to run and join full training.

“We’ve got Zuma out still, I think he’s just started running,” Baxter said on Thursday. “We’ve got Leo Castro who is still recovering from his operation. He had quite a bad one.

“Lebo Manyama is on his way back so he’s selectable but we can’t call him 100% yet. We’re integrating him. On top of that, I don’t think we’ve got too much at the moment.

“He’s got a serious injury,” the former Bafana Bafana coach added. “He was selectable in the Wydad games for me and then after that, I don’t think he was selectable.

“He’s had a serious injury, he’s had an operation and all sorts of treatment, prognoses and diagnoses and he’s at the point where he’s still hobbling and jogging around the pitch at the moment.”

Kaizer Chiefs suffered their first defeat of the DStv Premiership campaign last Sunday, going down 2-0 to Mamelodi Sundowns in a match that saw Manyama come off the bench and miss a penalty.

It may be early days in the Premiership campaign but the Khosi Nation are growing restless and that could mean that the second era of Baxter as head coach draws to a close sooner than the Englishman would hope.

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