Niko Kovac confirms Carney Chukwuemeka is fit for Borussia Dortmund’s cup clash

Borussia Dortmund midfielder Carney Chukwuemeka is available for Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal second-round encounter against Werder Bremen after head coach Niko Kovac dismissed concerns over a possible knee injury.

The 23-year-old raised fears during Sunday’s training session after appearing to hold his knee before leaving the pitch. However, Kovač confirmed that the decision to limit his participation was part of a planned workload-management programme rather than a response to an injury.

“No, that was planned,” the Dortmund manager explained, reassuring supporters that there was no cause for concern.

Chukwuemeka managed after demanding schedule

Kovač explained that Chukwuemeka had recently played 70 minutes against Sabah FC in Azerbaijan before featuring for approximately another 20 minutes in Dortmund’s Bundesliga victory over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Given the midfielder’s recent workload following a prolonged period without regular playing time, the coaching staff decided to manage his training carefully.

Chukwuemeka therefore completed only the initial part of Sunday’s session, sitting out the subsequent small-sided games to avoid unnecessary physical strain.

The precaution appears to have worked, with the midfielder returning to normal training on Monday ahead of the cup encounter.

Dortmund receive timely boost ahead of Werder clash

Chukwuemeka’s availability provides Dortmund with another midfield option as they prepare for a demanding knockout fixture against Werder Bremen.

The England-born Austria international impressed during his recent opportunities, including his performance in the Champions League victory over Sabah FC, and will hope to build on that progress.

Dortmund are aiming to maintain their momentum after consecutive victories against Sabah FC and Eintracht Frankfurt.

While Kovač will continue to monitor the physical condition of his squad, the latest update confirms that Chukwuemeka is fit and expected to be included in the matchday squad.

His return to full training will come as a relief to Dortmund, who are keen to preserve their options as they compete across three competitions.