Borussia Dortmund are closely monitoring the fitness of Carney Chukwuemeka, the Chelsea loanee, ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Lille on Tuesday night.
The Nigeria-eligible midfielder, who arrived at Dortmund on loan during the winter transfer window, suffered a minor injury during the team’s 2-0 victory over St. Pauli on Saturday. His condition has raised doubts about his availability for the crucial Round of 16 encounter at Signal Iduna Park.
Speaking at a press conference, Dortmund manager Niko Kovac provided an update on Chukwuemeka’s situation. Despite the setback, the midfielder was able to train individually on Monday, and the coaching staff remains hopeful that he will be fit for the match.
“He collided with someone in Hamburg and experienced slight discomfort in his thigh after the game,” Kovac stated. “He trained individually today, and we will assess his condition overnight.”
Chukwuemeka has endured a challenging season, struggling for game time at Chelsea before securing his loan move to Germany. The 21-year-old failed to feature in the Premier League but made five appearances across the UEFA Conference League and Carabao Cup.
Since joining Dortmund, he has begun to find his rhythm, registering three appearances in both the Bundesliga and the UEFA Champions League. With only a few months left on his loan deal, the young midfielder will be eager to maintain his progress and make a strong impression in Germany.
