Chidiebere Nwakali, who is on loan to Norwegian club IK Start from Manchester City, has been nursing a minor knee injury for the past three weeks.
“He has suffered a minor knee injury and that is why he has been sidelined,” a source informed.
After a difficult time at Spanish second-tier league club Girona, the 19-year-old Nigeria midfielder has enjoyed a great run at Start but last featured for the Norwegian strugglers in early October.
He also spent a week back in Nigeria after he was granted a compassionate leave following a family bereavement.
He posted 22 appearances and scored three goals for this season for Start, who are doomed for a return to the second division at the end of this campaign on Sunday.
He has said he hopes to move to a bigger league on another loan deal next season as he aims to soon be considered more seriously by Manchester City.