Bayer Leverkusen head coach, Xabi Alonso has confirmed that Nathan Tella could make his return from injury in Tuesday’s DFB Pokal semi-final against Arminia Bielefeld.
The 25-year-old forward has missed the club’s last three matches across all competitions due to a muscle injury.
Tella picked up the injury during Leverkusen’s 2-0 defeat to Werder Bremen before the international break, forcing him to miss the team’s recent encounters with VfB Stuttgart and VfL Bochum.
The injury also meant he had to withdraw from Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.
Despite missing the last few games, Tella is now nearing a return to full fitness and has been included in the squad for the cup semi-final.
Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Alonso provided a positive update on Tella’s fitness, revealing that if there are no setbacks during training.
“Nathan [Tella feels] way better. We train now, but if there is no problem [during the session], he is in the squad [against Bielefeld tomorrow],” Alonso said.
Tella’s return would be a significant boost for Leverkusen, especially as they look to secure both the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal this season.
Before his injury, Tella was an important figure in Leverkusen’s attack, contributing four goals and three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions. His pace and creativity on the flanks made him an essential part of the team.
However, while Tella’s recovery appears to be progressing well, Alonso confirmed that defenders Edmond Tapsoba and Florian Wirtz are not yet fit to feature.
“The game comes too early for Edmond Tapsoba and Florian Wirtz,” he added.
His potential return to the squad will give Leverkusen more attacking depth as they seek to defend their cup title, which they won last season.
