Bayern Munich left back David Alaba has finally returned to on-pitch training, as he recovers from a severe bone bruise received during the DFL Supercup against Eintracht Frankfurt last week. The Austrian is expected to resume full team training within a week, and might even be available for the Bundesliga opener against Hoffenheim (though the physios might want to play it safe and delay his return a bit longer).
The news will come as a relief to coach Niko Kovac, especially when it was initially feared that Alaba might have suffered an ACL tear (a potentially career derailing injury). Alaba himself had this to say about his recovery:
I feel very good, the knee has recovered well. I’ll be back in team training next week and full throttle.
While we await his return, Rafinha will be expected to fill in at the left back position. With Juan Bernat’s future at the club uncertain, Bayern Munich were lucky that Alaba’s injury wasn’t more serious than it ended up being.
UPDATE
Most of the players who missed the game against Drochtersen/Assel were all seen in training. James Rodriguez, Renato Sanches, and Sebastian Rudy all trained with the team. Serge Gnabry, who is suffering from a thigh injury, did not participate.