Joseph Aidoo makes injury return in Celta Vigo win over Valladolid after nearly a year

hana defender Joseph Aidoo made his long-awaited return to competitive football in Celta Vigo’s 3-1 win over Real Valladolid on Sunday.

Aidoo, who had been sidelined for 257 days due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, came on as a late substitute in the 89th minute, replacing Javi Rodriguez. This was his first appearance of the season after missing several games.

The 28-year-old sustained the injury while playing for the Black Stars in a friendly against Mexico in October 2023, forcing him to miss both the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and the rest of the 2023/24 campaign.

Having rejoined the team for pre-season, Aidoo will now look to build up his match fitness and work towards reclaiming a spot in the Black Stars setup.

Before his injury, he was important for both club and country. He made the final squad for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after impressing for Celta Vigo.