Ramy Bensebaini fit again for Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund can call on Ramy Bensebaini again after the Algerian defender completed his recovery from a rib bruise.

The 31-year-old has been unavailable for around three weeks after sustaining the injury in the Franz Beckenbauer Cup against Bayern Munich, but he is now fit for Saturday’s Bundesliga match against SC Paderborn.

Bensebaini has trained without restrictions in recent days, giving head coach Niko Kovac a timely defensive boost. “Ramy has completed the latest training sessions in full. He is fit, healthy and available for the weekend,” Kovac said at his pre-match press conference.

The coach confirmed that Bensebaini is more than simply an option for the matchday squad. However, he stopped short of revealing whether the defender will start or be eased back in from the bench after his layoff.

“I can rely on both of them and could, in theory but also in practice, field both. I am very happy about that,” Kovac said, referring to Bensebaini and fellow returning defender Nico Schlotterbeck.

Their availability gives Dortmund welcome flexibility ahead of the Paderborn fixture. Bensebaini’s experience, defensive awareness and ability to contribute down the left provide Kovac with an important selection decision as the team prepares for another demanding weekend.