RB Leipzig can plan for the first half of the season against Eintracht Frankfurt with new signing Eljif Elmas. "This is my third day today, I feel good, I'm training with the group and no longer feel any pain in my thigh. I think I'm ready," said the midfielder on Thursday at the training camp in La Manga. Leipzig will host Eintracht on January 13 (3.30pm/Sky).
Castello Lukeba was back in full team training on Thursday. Kevin Kampl and Mohamed Simakan, on the other hand, were still sidelined with infections. The duo will most likely not be able to take part in the test match against FC St. Gallen on Saturday.
The same applies to Dani Olmo and Willi Orban, who have been injured for a long time and have not yet completed the full program. While Olmo is already partially integrated into team training following his acromioclavicular joint injury, Orban is still in individual sessions after tearing the collateral ligament in his knee.
The North Macedonian Elmas was signed from Italian champions SSC Napoli for around €25 million at the end of 2023. He was initially unable to complete his full training load in the Spanish camp due to thigh problems. The 24-year-old then completed the full program for the first time on Thursday.
Elmas is expected to play a key role in Leipzig. The technically adept international was signed as the successor to leading player Emil Forsberg, who moved to sister club New York. In Naples, Elmas played more centrally than his Swedish predecessor in Leipzig, so he will have to make some adjustments.
It is still unclear how fit Elmas is. He has made 16 appearances for Napoli this season, but only four of them in the starting eleven. Elmas has not played a game since a brief appearance on 8 December due to injury.
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