French-born Angolan center-back Castello Lukeba is making strides toward a quicker-than-expected return to action.
The 21-year-old resumed individual training on the pitch Thursday, signaling promising progress in his recovery from a thigh muscle injury sustained against Wolfsburg nearly two weeks ago. Initially sidelined for two months, Lukeba was projected to be unavailable until February.
However, RB Leipzig coach Marco Rose offered an optimistic update during the pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s clash with Eintracht Frankfurt. “Given his current progress, a January return is possible,” Rose revealed, hinting at the defender’s potential availability earlier than anticipated.
Despite the encouraging signs, it remains uncertain whether Lukeba will feature immediately in the second half of the Bundesliga season. Leipzig’s first match in 2025, a showdown with SV Werder Bremen on January 12, might come too soon for the youngster to rejoin the starting lineup. Still, his accelerated recovery is a morale boost for Leipzig as they aim to solidify their backline for the crucial stages of the campaign.
