Kovać talks injuries and young stars ahead of clash with Union Berlin | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund head trainer Niko Kovać addressed the press ahead of their clash with Union Berlin on Saturday.

Despite seeing off Sporting CP to progress to the next round in the Champions League knockout phase, Die Schwarzgelben are languishing in mid-table across what has been a painful 2024/25 campaign on the home front.

Thankfully for Kovać, he has minimal injury concerns ahead of tomorrow. According to the boss "Felix Nmecha is not available. All other players are ready for action," and that, of course, includes a cadre of Dortmund starlets, with new boy Daniel Svensson continuing to impress.

Having featured on three occasions since his arrival from Danish production house Nordsjælland, Svensson has already bedded into the senior set-up quickly.

"Daniel Svensson plays three sensationally good games. He makes few mistakes, is always playable," Kovać said. "He comes from Denmark, doesn't speak a word of German, and is immediately integrated. That was top."

Kovać also talked up English winger Jamie Gittens amid a poor run of form where he has failed to find the back of the net since 14 January against Holstein Kiel.

"Jamie has made great progress. He's currently accumulating a lot of intense minutes. We need to find a balance there. I am very satisfied with Jamie, but one must also understand that there can be a small dent at times."

With just one win in their last five, Dortmund comes into the weekend closer to the bottom three than pre-season Bundesliga title rivals Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen.

📸 INA FASSBENDER - AFP or licensors