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Sebastian Kehl gives update on Borussia Dortmund players returning from injuries

By Austin Weldon

DORTMUND, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 04: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Head of the Licensing Player Department Sebastian Kehl of Borussia Dortmund laughs during the Borussia Dortmund Training Session on September 04, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
DORTMUND, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 04: (BILD ZEITUNG OUT) Head of the Licensing Player Department Sebastian Kehl of Borussia Dortmund laughs during the Borussia Dortmund Training Session on September 04, 2020 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images) /
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Borussia Dortmund players are set to head back to the club this weekend and Sebestian Kehl gave some updates about the injured players.

Sebastian Kehl is fresh off signing his own contract extension that will keep him in his current role as the head of the BVB player department until 2022. This is a one year contract extension that matches Michael Zorc’s and puts him in line to take over once Zorc most likely retires. It’s not a secret that Dortmund plans to eventually replace Zorc with Kehl, more of a when than an if.

Now that the players are heading back to the club for training ahead of this weekend’s game, Kehl gave us a variety of updates regarding the injured players.

First and foremost Kehl confirmed what we already knew that Manel Akanji will miss this weekend’s game against Hoffenheim after testing positive for COVID-19 while on international duty.

"“Manuel is doing fine, that is the most important thing,” Kehl told Ruhr Nachrichten. “He will not be available to us this weekend. As far as the game against Lazio Rome on Tuesday is concerned, we will have to wait and see. We have to be careful with the case, because the health of the player is most important”."

Kehl also provided some brief updates on both Nico Schulz and Thorgan Hazard. Nico Schulz is going to miss the coming weeks after tearing a muscle fibre. Although not a starter by any means, the loss of Schulz does complicate things with games coming thick and fast.

"“This failure does not make it easier for us. The trainer has a lot of thoughts about how he will solve this in terms of personnel. But our squad is so well staffed that there can be several scenarios, and staff shortages must not be an excuse for us not being able to succeed.”"

With the schedule now ramping up to two games a week, Dortmund’s depth will be put to the test. Thorgan Hazard is a lot closer to a comeback than Nico Schulz but still likely won’t be ready for this weekend.

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With the condensed schedule it doesn’t make sense to rush Hazard back and risk further injury, Dortmund will take their time to make sure he is ready as they will need him down the stretch.