Lukas Nmecha on the comeback trail: “So many people have helped me.” | OneFootball

Nine-times-capped German international Lukas Nmecha had no way of knowing that the knee injury incurred in a Bundesliga fixture against Borussia Dortmund in November of 2022 would lead to an exceptionally difficult phase of his career lasting well over two years.

The 26-year-old suffered numerous injury setbacks over the past 27 months, re-aggravating his knee injury twice whilst also tearing a muscle cluster in his thigh.

A comeback last winter (three brief appearances off the bench between match-days 22 and 24) at least enabled him to net his first Bundesliga goal in 15 months. Apart from those three relief shifts (totalling only 39 minutes), however, the Hamburg-native did not feature at all last season. In the 2022/23 campaign, Nmecha also only made three brief appearances off the bench after that fateful November day.

Such occurrences naturally left the older Nmecha brother pondering the fate of his entire career. His current club show little to no interest in extending his expiring contract. A brace off the bench in yesterday’s 5-1 home win over Borussia Mönchengladbach certainly helped his prospects. Speaking in the mixed zone after registering his first Bundesliga brace since a September 2022 win over Köln, Nmecha let plenty of emotion flow.

“There are so many people who have helped me,” Nmecha told reporters. “My family. The team doctors and rehabilitation staff. I can’t even remember all the names. I feel good. I’m fit. My [long] period of suffering is over. Now I can get back in gear.”

GGFN | Peter Weis