Abdeslam Ouaddou provides Patrick Maswanganyi update after Orlando Pirates star left Bafana Bafana World Cup qualifying camp following an injury setback - 'I’m happy that he’s coming back'

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has provided an injury update on Bucs' attacking midfielder Patrick Maswanganyi.

Maswanganyi suffered an injury setback just before the FIFA international break and had to withdraw from the Bafana Bafana camp. Hugo Broos had named him in his final squad that was selected for the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Nigeria.

In what is now positive news, Ouaddou has revealed his midfielder has returned to training.

“Yes [Patrick is ready for the final]; if you see him on the pitch, it means that the medical department gave him the green light to be there,” Ouaddou told the press on Tuesday.

“I’m happy that he’s coming back. It seems like the injury is not so serious. Whenever my players are injured, I’m very sad. So I’m happy that he’s with us," he added.

Maswanganyi suffered an injury during the Bucs' Premier Soccer League game against Chippa United at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha.

In that game, in which the Sea Robbers claimed three points with a 3-0 victory, the attacking midfielder was on the scoresheet. However, he suffered an injury that ended up denying him a chance to play for Bafana.

In his place, Broos called up his teammate, Sipho Mbule, who featured in the starting XI against Lesotho.

Maswanganyi has been a key player for the resurgent Bucs, as he has scored three goals in seven games against Chippa and Marumo Gallants in the league and against Polokwane City in the MTN8 quarter-final.

The Tembisa-born midfielder could be involved for Pirates during the MTN8 final against Stellenbosch FC on Saturday.

However, Ouaddou could exercise caution and not field his attacking midfielder from the start in the crucial showdown just after recovering from the short-term injury.