Nathan Tella returns to team training at Bayer Leverkusen after months on the sidelines

Nigerian winger Nathan Tella has returned to team training, offering Bayer Leverkusen a significant lift ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga clash away to Wolfsburg, according to a report by Bild.

The 26-year-old rejoined the main group on Tuesday after spending two months on the sidelines with persistent knee problems that have kept him out since mid-September.

Tella, who picked up the injury during Leverkusen's 3-1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt on September 12, has endured repeated setbacks in his recovery. 

His return to the pitch marks an important step forward, although his availability for the weekend remains uncertain.

Despite this, there is growing optimism within the club that he could at least make the matchday squad.

During Tuesday’s session, Tella participated in almost all team activities but skipped the final internal match. 

Instead, he continued working individually on passing and shooting drills alongside Axel Tape, who is also easing back from injury. 

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand appears to be taking a cautious approach, prioritizing a long-term solution to ensure Tella’s knee remains stable and pain-free.

The timing of his return is crucial. With Arthur struggling for consistency on the right wing, Tella’s availability provides an important alternative for Hjulmand. Leverkusen face a demanding run of eight matches in the next four weeks, including high-profile encounters against Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund, Newcastle United, and RB Leipzig.

Tella's injury absence has also affected his international commitments. He missed Nigeria’s last four FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Rwanda, South Africa, Lesotho and Benin, as well as the recent World Cup playoffs against Gabon and DR Congo. 

With the Africa Cup of Nations set to take place next month in Morocco, the winger will be hoping to regain full fitness and reclaim his place in the Super Eagles squad.

Wale Adejumo

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