Villarreal’s forward Samuel Chukwueze is expected to return to the side soon after undergoing successful surgery on his groin.

The Nigerian winger got injured in his side’s 4-0 win at Celta Vigo on the 8th of January in the La Liga.

Since then, the player has missed six of Villarreal’s matches against Tenerife, Granada, Huesca, Girona, Real Sociedad, and Levante.

Chukwueze had his surgery at a Munich hospital on Thursday morning in Germany and the club revealed in a statement that the Nigerian’s return date will be determined by the progress he records.

“Samuel Chukwueze, who has been out injured receiving treatment for discomfort in his groin, has undergone surgery this morning [Thursday] by Doctor Ulrike Muschaweck in Munich, hoping to definitively relieve him of the said pain.” the club said in a statement on their website.

The club also revealed that Ruben Pena picked up muscle damage to his left hamstring in Wednesday’s Copa del Rey quarter-final match against Levante.

Samuel Chukwueze has played 17 times in the La Liga this season, but he has just one goal. The Yellow Submarines are in 5th position with 35 points from 21 matches.

Meanwhile, in the Copa Del Rey on Thursday evening, Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis played out a 1-1 draw in regular time in the quarter-final.

However, Athletic Bilbao progressed into the next round of the competition 4-1 on penalties.

Juanmi had scored for Real Betis with six minutes left to play, but Raul Garcia equalized for Bilbao in the final minute of additional time.

The extra time ended without a goal, but the resultant shootout favored Atlético Bilbao as Real Betis losing two of their three spot-kicks while Bilbao scored all four.

Athletic Bilbao joins Barcelona, who defeated Granada 5-3 after extra-time on Wednesday, Levante, and Sevilla in the semifinals of the Copa Del Rey.

Written by: Daniel Ademiju Idowu