Shamrock Rovers will consult Arsenal before deciding whether Victor Ozhianvuna can return to first-team action.
The 17-year-old midfielder has been unavailable since May because of a muscle injury and is due to undergo another scan within the next fortnight.
Arsenal involved in recovery decision
Ozhianvuna last played for Rovers during their 2-1 victory over Bohemians on May 25. Stephen Bradley has now confirmed that the club will speak to Arsenal once the results of the teenager’s next assessment are available, according to The Irish Times.
“We’re hoping to get Victor rescanned in the next two weeks, and we’ll sit down with Arsenal and have a chat then.”
Arsenal agreed a €2 million deal for the Republic of Ireland youth international last year, setting a new record fee for an Irish teenager. Ozhianvuna signed a four-and-a-half-year contract which begins when he officially joins the Premier League champions in January 2027.
The consultation means Arsenal will have an influence over whether their future midfielder plays again before leaving Tallaght. Rovers will be eager to have Ozhianvuna available, but neither club is likely to take unnecessary risks with a player who has already spent almost three months on the sidelines.
Rovers prepare for KuPS test
Ozhianvuna will not feature when Rovers host Finnish champions KuPS in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League play-off. The tie follows a difficult week in which Bradley’s side were eliminated from two competitions.
Rovers surrendered a 3-1 first-leg advantage against Egnatia after losing 5-1 in Albania, dropping them out of the Europa League. They subsequently suffered an extra-time defeat against St Patrick’s Athletic in the FAI Cup after Aidan Keena’s 94th-minute penalty forced an additional 30 minutes.
“We asked for a response from Thursday, and we got that. We were a minute away from going through on Sunday. Ed McGinty is very unlucky then to not save the penalty,” added Bradley.
“Once it went to extra time, to be fair, the players were out on their feet after Thursday. They gave everything. We just came up short but we can’t ask for much more off them.”
Graham Burke and Matt Healy are available to return against KuPS, although John McGovern, Naj Razi and Dan Cleary remain injured. Rovers are attempting to reach the league phase of a European competition for the fourth time in five seasons, with qualification worth at least €3.17 million.
Arsenal’s involvement is understandable given the size of their investment and Ozhianvuna’s age, but it leaves Rovers in an awkward position. He remains their player until January and could strengthen them during a decisive European period, yet protecting his long-term fitness must take priority over securing a short-term advantage.
