Chukwuemeka Back in training: Can he lead Dortmund to victory?

Chukwuemeka Back in training: Can he lead Dortmund to victory?

The international break has brought Borussia Dortmund both stress and opportunities. While some players used the time to regenerate, others who had to pause due to injury are returning to the squad. A central topic in the black and yellow is the return of Carney Chukwuemeka, which is ready for use after his injury, but only available to a limited extent.

The 21-year-old Chukwuemeka, who was committed as a winter newcomer to Chelsea, has had to deal with knee and muscle problems in the past few months. In the Bundesliga, he has only been able to collect 54 minutes in the Champions League. He celebrated his debut for Dortmund at the impressive 6-0 victory against Union Berlin, where he initiated two goals in a short time. Despite his short periods of operation, he convinced with his presence and creativity on the field, which caused those responsible for the association to think about a possible further obligation. Nevertheless, it remains to be clarified how often it can be used due to his injury history.

return and fitness questions

coach Niko Kovac stated that Chukwuemeka could catch up with the international break, but is not in the constitution to play through 90 minutes. For the upcoming home game against Mainz, he will probably only be on the pitch for between 20 and 30 minutes. Kovac describes the situation for Chukwuemeka as a constant "up and down", and warns against overloading the player. This caution is particularly important because too little playing time can have negative effects on the rhythm and intensity of a player.

The history of injury in Chukwuemeka is worrying. He had already suffered a knee injury in August 2023, which required an operation and threw it far back. This also complicates the planning of Borussia Dortmund, which are in the fight for European places. In the remaining eight league games, BVB has six encounters against higher-placed teams, which exerts additional pressure on the players.

Problem of injury in German football

This problem is not just a topic for Dortmund. According to the analyzes of Fussballwedhungen.com, muscle injuries are the most common type of injuries in the Bundesliga. In the 2022/23 season, thigh injuries were most common, followed by knee and ankle injuries. Injuries have an impact on the individual fitness of the players, but also on the overall performance of the teams. Dortmund is badly affected in this regard, while Bayern Munich had fewer injury problems in comparison and thus could better play their dominance.

In this context, Chukwuemeka's health and fitness will continue to be decisive to help BVB achieve its goals in the current season. A complete comeback could be of great importance for the Dortmund squad to survive in the close competition for European places.

Overall, it remains to be seen how the situation around Chukwuemeka and its operational times will develop, in particular against the background of the upcoming games and the important challenges that BVB still has to deal with this season.