BVB given hope: Schlotterbeck close to making his comeback | OneFootball

After five months of injury break, Nico Schlotterbeck is back in team training at Borussia Dortmund. His comeback on the pitch could happen soon.

Borussia Dortmund can breathe a sigh of relief: central defender Nico Schlotterbeck has taken a big step on the way back to team training. About five months after his meniscus tear in his left knee, the 25-year-old took part in parts of the team training for the first time on Wednesday. He had previously completed individual sessions and resumed running training at the end of July.

The injury had put Schlotterbeck out of action since early April, causing him to miss most of the current season. Now his comeback could possibly happen as early as September. DFB coach Julian Nagelsmann should also be pleased about the return of the national player, who is an important factor for both BVB and the German national team.

At BVB, Schlotterbeck is highly regarded. Along with Julian Brandt, he is one of the central deputies of captain Emre Can, who is currently struggling with adductor problems. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl already emphasized the significant role of the defender after the injury, stating that Schlotterbeck is "a very important part of our team".

BVB's defensive chief Schlotterbeck returns to team training

Schlotterbeck is contractually bound to the Black and Yellows until the summer of 2027. According to information from BILD, the Ruhr club plans to keep the defensive chief in the long term, and could offer him a significant salary increase as part of an extension. The German national player moved to Dortmund from SC Freiburg in the summer of 2022 for around 20 million euros - an investment that has paid off for the club so far.

His comeback comes at a crucial time: Borussia Dortmund is simultaneously challenged in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup, and the Champions League. After the international break, the Westphalians have a Bundesliga away game at 1. FC Heidenheim next Saturday. This is followed by the Champions League match at Juventus Turin on Tuesday, before the home game against VfL Wolfsburg on Sunday. With Nico Schlotterbeck, Borussia's defense could perform significantly more stable again.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.