Guela Doue’s return delayed as Bayer Leverkusen defender continues calf recovery

Bayer Leverkusen defender Guela Doue will need more time to recover from a calf injury before returning to competitive action, with his comeback expected to take place in stages.

The 23-year-old sustained a muscle injury in his right calf during training ahead of Leverkusen’s Europa League clash against NK Celje in September. An MRI scan confirmed the problem, ruling him out for several weeks. Bayer Leverkusen

Head coach Carles Martinez provided an update on Friday, confirming that the Ivory Coast international is improving but remains some distance from a return.

“Guela is doing better, but he is still not close,” Martinez explained.

The coach added that Doue is expected to begin training with the squad in the coming weeks before the club assesses whether he is ready to resume full competitive duties.

“All in all, he needs to start training with the group in the coming weeks. After that, we’ll see how close he is to being fully match-ready,” Martinez said.

Doue joined Leverkusen from Strasbourg in September and made his Bundesliga debut against Augsburg, playing 27 minutes before the injury setback interrupted his progress. Bundesliga

The right-back will now focus on completing his rehabilitation and building up his fitness gradually. Leverkusen are expected to manage his return carefully rather than risk a premature comeback, with no exact date yet confirmed for his return to the pitch.