Felix Nmecha edges closer to Borussia Dortmund return

Borussia Dortmund have received encouraging news on Felix Nmecha, as the midfielder takes the next step in his recovery and moves closer to a potential comeback this season.

The 25-year-old has been sidelined for four weeks with a lateral knee ligament tear but is now back working on the pitch in running drills as part of his rehab program.

Head coach Niko Kovac struck a cautiously optimistic note when he spoke about Nmecha’s status at the pre-match press conference. „Felix is ​​still unavailable. He has started running training,” explained the BVB coach. At the same time, he opened the door to a return before the end of the campaign: “We are quite confident that something can still happen this season,” said Kovac, without mentioning a specific timeframe.

Kovač also underlined how much Dortmund miss Nmecha’s specific profile in central midfield. He pointed out that Nmecha’s ability to demand the ball in tight spaces, shield possession and drive the game forward under pressure is currently hard to replace in the squad. “The characteristic that Felix displays: demanding and securing balls in tight spaces, we don’t have too many players like that,” the coach emphasized.

The coach highlighted that Nmecha’s dynamism and ball-carrying are key for Dortmund’s transition from back to front. “We lack the transition play from back to front, the ball security and the drive he has with the ball,” Kovač continued, admitting that the loss is difficult to compensate for internally.

If his recovery continues to progress smoothly, Nmecha could yet become an important option for the final stretch of the season. A timely return would give BVB a noticeable boost in their push for their remaining objectives, adding stability and drive to the heart of their game.