Jamal Musiala is set to make his highly anticipated return from a serious injury when Bayern Munich visits RB Leipzig this Saturday.
The 22-year-old Germany international has been out of action since sustaining a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle during the Club World Cup in July.
After participating in full training for two weeks, manager Vincent Kompany expressed hope that Musiala will take the field for the first time this season.
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“If everything goes well today, he’ll be ready to play. That would be fantastic,” Kompany said during his pre-match press conference.
“He brings a lot of positive energy. Right now, even the small things are a joy. You come to appreciate everything so much more. Jamal is feeling this, as is Alphonso Davies. I want to ensure we manage both players carefully. The focus is on their reintegration.”
“Eventually, they’ll reach their previous levels of performance after their injuries. Regular play is what builds fitness. Now, he’s had the opportunity to rebuild his body, enhance his mobility, and improve his speed. This time off can allow players to return even stronger.”
Despite sitting at the top of the league, Bayern is facing selection challenges, particularly at right-back, due to an injury to Konrad Laimer.
The 28-year-old sustained a calf injury and was substituted during stoppage time of Bayern’s 3-1 win over Cologne on Wednesday.
A subsequent scan in Munich revealed that Laimer has a torn muscle in his left calf, which will keep him sidelined for several weeks.
With Josip Stanisic also unavailable, Joshua Kimmich, who missed the game against Cologne, may need to step up.
“We do have several absences at right-back, but we’ve managed similar situations in the past,” Kompany stated. “There are numerous players who can fill in. Earlier in the season, we faced similar issues at left-back.”
“A few players will miss some games, but it could be worse. Josip Stanisic and Konrad Laimer should return soon.”
“We’re still evaluating Joshua. He might even be available to play tomorrow. We’re currently sorting out our lineup.”
Harry Kane scored a hat trick in Bayern’s impressive 6-0 victory against Leipzig in their season opener.
However, Leipzig has surged to third place in the Bundesliga, and captain David Raum remarked, “We are a completely different team compared to the one that faced Bayern earlier this season.”
“We are now more stable and have developed better play patterns, both with and without the ball. Playing at home will also give us the confidence to be bold.”