Ernest Nuamah Nears Comeback as Lyon Winger Steps Up ACL Recovery
Ghana international Ernest Nuamah is edging closer to a competitive return after making significant progress in his recovery from a long-term knee injury that kept him sidelined for almost a year.
The Olympique Lyon winger suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in April last year during a French Ligue 1 encounter against Lille. His outing in that Round 28 fixture was cut short after just seven minutes following a ground challenge with Lille defender Gabriel Gudmundsson, an incident that forced him off and raised immediate concern.
Subsequent medical assessments confirmed a serious ACL injury, ruling Nuamah out for an estimated period of six to twelve months. While early projections suggested he could miss the entire 2025/26 season, the 21-year-old has defied expectations by accelerating his rehabilitation timeline.
After months of structured recovery work, including intensive gym sessions that began late last year, the highly-rated winger has now taken a major step forward. Nuamah returned to the training pitch earlier this week and has started ball work, signaling that he is approaching full fitness.
Before his injury setback, the Right to Dream Academy graduate had attracted interest from several Premier League clubs, thanks to his explosive pace and creativity on the flanks. His rapid progress has boosted optimism within Lyon’s camp that he could still feature in matches later in the current campaign.
Although an official return date has not yet been confirmed by the club, Nuamah is eager to resume competitive action as soon as possible. Beyond club football, the winger also has his sights firmly set on international duty, as he hopes to force his way back into Ghana’s Black Stars squad ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup scheduled for next summer.
With his recovery now firmly on track, Ernest Nuamah’s long-awaited comeback appears closer than ever.
