Manuel Neuer Set to Return to Action After 10 Months Out With Broken Leg
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Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is set to make his long-awaited return to action this weekend, more than 10 months after he suffered a broken leg. Champions Bayern host Darmstadt in the Bundesliga on Saturday (14:30 BST), and manager Thomas Tuchel confirmed on Friday that Neuer is set to play if all goes well in training.
Neuer’s last appearance for Bayern was against his old club Schalke on 12 November last year, and his return to partial training was delayed because of complications with his recovery from the lower-leg fracture. The injury occurred soon after the national team’s disappointing Qatar 2022 campaign, which Neuer had said he was trying to “get [his] head clear” from on a skiing trip after Germany failed to reach the knockout stages of the tournament.
Tuchel expressed his excitement for Neuer’s return, saying “I’m certain many other people are also excited.” He added that Neuer “can be proud of himself” and that he was “enjoying it right now”. Tuchel also noted that Neuer would have to deal with nerves and excitement as he returns to action, but expressed hope that he would be able to get back into the swing of things quickly and that everything would go well for him.
Neuer’s return will be a welcome boost for Bayern, who have been struggling in recent weeks and have dropped to fourth in the Bundesliga table after a run of three games without a win in all competitions. With the experienced goalkeeper back in the side, Bayern will be hoping to get back on track and reclaim their spot at the top of the table.
Neuer has been an integral part of Bayern’s success since joining the club in 2011, winning seven Bundesliga titles and the Champions League in 2013 as well as four German Cups and four German Super Cups during his time at the club. He has also been a key figure for Germany, winning the World Cup in 2014 and being named the best goalkeeper in the world four times by FIFA in 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
The 33-year-old’s return to action will be a huge boost for both Bayern and Germany, and his presence in goal could be the difference between success and failure for both teams this season. It remains to be seen how quickly he can get back up to speed after such a long layoff, but if he can return to his best form then it could be a major turning point in Bayern’s season and a huge boost for Germany ahead of Euro 2020 next summer.