Kaizer Chiefs Goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune Nearing Return From Injury

Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune is a couple of weeks away from returning to full fitness, says Glamour Boys coach Ernst Middendorp.

The South African international has been out injured since January and missed the Africa Cup of Nations as a result of his long layoff.

Middendorp said that team doctors have informed him the goalkeeper will make a return next month.

“We have to look now from a training perspective how soon we can bring him into the area that he feels comfortable,” the coach told reporters.

“We have to prepare him, and this is a decision on an experienced goalkeeper at this level, in co-operation with goalkeeper coach Lee Baxter, we have to decide and find out, is it in two weeks? Is it in three weeks?”

“But definitely in August he’ll be available, I’m quite sure. He looks very good, very impressive. I haven’t really seen it before, but he had an outstanding contribution during our camp, where we worked hard from 08:00 every morning until 19:30 every day.”

Middendorp added: “There was no day off, there was no half-day off. On the field and off the field, I think I’ve seen an outstanding contribution from Itu Khune, and I’m very happy that he can be part of the team regularly.

“It’s an outstanding contribution that we will expect to see in the games when he’s in [the field of play].”

Kaizer Chiefs open their 2019/2020 Absa Premiership campaign against Highlands Park at Makhulong Stadium, Tembisa, on Sunday.