Kerem Aktürkoğlu

Akturkoglu (knee) has returned to running drills and could feature in the second friendly against Venezuela on June 7, according to coach Vincenzo Montella, per Yagız Sabuncuoglu of NOW TV Turkiye. "We experienced a great deal of fear that day. Thank goodness, there's no serious condition. Kerem has started running drills. I might give him some playing time in the match on the 7th."

Analysis: Akturkoglu had been set for around 10 days on the sidelines after suffering a knee sprain in training, and his return to running drills is an encouraging development that confirms his World Cup participation remains intact. The coach's positive update is a significant relief for Turkey heading into the tournament, with the striker expected to be fully available by the time their opening fixture arrives.

May 25, 2026

Suffers knee sprain in training

Akturkoglu (knee) suffered a knee sprain during Turkiye's national team training session on Friday after tripping on the grass during a small-sided game, but is expected to be sidelined for around 10 days with no obstacle to his World Cup participation, according to Fanatik.

Analysis: Akturkoglu was visibly distressed after the injury, leaving the pitch in tears and requiring a vehicle to transport him back to the facilities after having difficulty walking. The forward's knee was bandaged following the initial intervention from the medical team, but the subsequent extensive checks delivered a significant relief for both player and Turkiye, confirming that the winger should be available in time for the tournament despite the scare in training.

Kerem Aktürkoğlu

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Running, targeting second friendly

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