Eliesse Ben Seghir targets return after international break as Leverkusen remain cautious

Eliesse Ben Seghir is making progress in his recovery at Bayer Leverkusen but is not expected to return to competitive action until after the upcoming international break.

The 21-year-old Moroccan winger has increased his training workload following his recent injury problems, although head coach Carles Martínez wants him to regain full fitness before considering him for selection.

Speaking at Wednesday’s press conference ahead of Leverkusen’s Europa League encounter against Olympique Marseille, Martínez confirmed that the club would not rush the winger’s recovery.

“We have decided that after his injuries, he needs time to return to normal training,” the Spanish coach explained.

He added that Leverkusen were determined to respect the recovery process despite their current injury problems.

“We don’t want to rush anything, even though we have players missing, and we respect his normal recovery process.”

Ben Seghir will therefore miss Thursday’s European encounter against Marseille and Sunday’s Bundesliga meeting with FC Köln.

Martínez targets post-international break return

The Leverkusen manager believes the upcoming international break will provide an ideal opportunity for Ben Seghir to increase his training intensity and regain his match fitness.

“We can use the international break to our advantage and train more,” Martínez explained, highlighting the difficulties of preparing players properly during a congested fixture schedule.

The coach also acknowledged that Ben Seghir could theoretically be considered for selection before the break but insisted that patience remains the preferred approach.

“I think he will be ready after the international break, if everything goes normally,” Martínez added.

The Moroccan international has endured a frustrating start to his Leverkusen career, with recurring muscular problems disrupting his attempts to establish himself in the first team.

His return will provide another attacking option for Martínez, who is currently managing several injury absences within his squad.

Leverkusen will hope Ben Seghir completes his rehabilitation without further setbacks and becomes available again after the international break.