Marcel Schmelzer will be back in the squad for the trip to SC Freiburg, having recovered from an injury that kept him sidelined for seven weeks. The captain is expected to feature in the starting XI.

"He's completed almost every training session with us in the last few weeks and is fit to play," explained head coach Peter Bosz on Thursday. Schmelzer, who sustained an ankle injury, used the two-week international break to get fit for the upcoming fixture pile-up, having previously opted against making his comeback in the Bundesliga clash with Hertha BSC a fortnight ago.

"A top team needs to be spoilt for choice like that"

Bosz appreciates the fact that players are gradually returning to fitness and creating competition for places. "We need to have the players available, we can't play seven matches over the next three weeks with only 11 players," explained the Dutchman, who added: "We have a very big squad with very good players. A top team needs to be spoilt for choice like that."

Among those who will be returning in the foreseeable future is Julian Weigl, who is currently still training individually and is being prepared step by step for a steady and increasingly intensive involvement in team training. "He's been out of action for a long time and will be eased back into training," said Bosz, who quashed speculation that the defensive midfielder could feature on Saturday. "He's not yet at the stage where he can play in Freiburg," he said.

Internationals all return injury-free

Bosz is not overly concerned with the chatter surrounding the role Nuri Sahin will play once Weigl has returned to action. "They can both play at the same time!" he declared. "We can play with two in the no. 6 position and one in the no. 10 position. Everything's possible." Sahin is also a contender for the "no. 8 slot" in BVB's preferred 4-3-3 formation.

There are unlikely to be many changes to the starting line-up other than Schmelzer's reintroduction, as all of the players who were away on international duty have returned to the club injury-free.
Boris Rupert