Kaizer Chiefs will head into their weekend’s DStv Premiership game on Sunday against Marumo Gallants with a number of players missing. Joining long term injury absentees Leonardo Castro, Siyabonga Ngezana and Dumsani Zuma are Samir Nurković, Phathutshedzo Nange and Kgaogelo Sekgota.

The trio will be unavailable for selection for the trip North to face Gallants, with Nurković under- going an operation on Wednesday to repair his meniscus in his right knee. Commenting on his impending surgery the Serb said: “I have had this injury niggling me for a while now – the medical team felt it was best to get the operation done. Further assessments will be done after the operation. The medical team will give me a timeline on the recovery process after that.”

Joining him on the sidelines in Nange who injured his adductor inner thigh muscle during Chiefs game against Royal AM and had to be substituted later in the first half. He is expected to be out of action for the next fortnight. While Sekgota who took a knock to his ankle after a wayward challenge by Royal AM captain Samuel Manganyi required stitches, the Chiefs medical team are awaiting the results of a scan to see if there is any other damage before further assessments can be made on him.

For Chiefs long-term injured players Castro’s rehabilitation has moved up a gear as he has begun running again and is progressing well as he targets a return to action. Ngezana in the meantime is in the final stages of his rehabilitation process and should be back in full training by the middle of October. Zuma is still in the rehabilitation phase as he recovers from a knee injury.