Asamoah Gyan ended last season with four goals for Kayserispor as series of injuries restricted the captain of the Black Stars to fourteen appearances of the 2017/18 campaign.
Gyan, 33, however spent enough time getting into perfect shape in the off season, recharged the batteries and was looking forward to start this season in a big way but Umut Bulut the 35-year old Turkish striker is standing in his way.
Bulut, at Kayserispor since 2016/17, possesses a golden health and is the undisputed number one attacker for the club. Hardly injured.
At his age he has appeared in over 70 matches in all competitions scoring 22 goals since joining the club from Galatasaray where he spent four full seasons.
In the season of 2017/18 Bulut – 34 years then – finished as club top goalscorer on 15 goals and has netted once at the start of the current campaign.
It is tough competition for Gyan even more than what one could imagine. The former Galatasaray striker was born in the city of Kayseri and represents more than a footballer for the Kayseri fans as a local boy donning their shirt.
Gyan is fit but not playing as new coach Ertugrul Saglam’s 4-2-3-1 formation can only accommodate just one main center forward and Saglam’s choice is not the all-time highest goalscorer of the national team of Ghana.
But the season is just two games old and Gyan will be calmly waiting for his chance.