Tella Admits He’s Not Yet Fully Back in Training with Leverkusen

Nathan Tella has revealed that he is still working his way back to full fitness with Bayer 04 Leverkusen and is not yet fully training with the first‑team group. The Super Eagles attacker sustained a knee injury in mid‑September during Leverkusen’s victory over Eintracht Frankfurt, and since then has missed several matches.

“I’m not completely back (in training) with the team yet, but I have more confidence in my leg than I did the last time out,” Tella told Bild, via Werkself Xtra.  He added: “I feel like I’m on the right track. I’m no longer in pain. Now it’s just a matter of gaining confidence in my knee after the injury.”

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand confirmed that Tella and a teammate are currently training individually and that the international break could provide the platform for their return to full team training. “I hope and believe they’ll be back after the break,” he stated.

Editorial

In the intricate choreography of elite football, moments of recovery often count for as much as moments of brilliance. Nathan Tella’s current state back in training yet not fully integrated presents a dual narrative: of hope, and of pragmatic caution.

Leverkusen are not just rebuilding a campaign; they are reinforcing their identity. In that context, Tella’s return must be measured not by flashes of speed or one‑off runs, but by his readiness to contribute rhythm, reliability and resilience. The fact that he is candid about his progress signals maturity and intelligence. He recognises that fitness is not simply the absence of pain, but the presence of trust in one’s body under the most strenuous of demands.

For the Super Eagles context, his return is significant, though not automatic. Nigeria’s coaching staff will watch not just when he plays, but how he plays. A player judged by pace and power must also show timing, decision‑making and durability. Tella now faces the challenge of transitioning from “returning” to “relevant”.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, must calibrate their expectations. The injury lay‑off has cost minutes, but it need not cost momentum. If Tella re-enters at the correct moment when the body is ready, the mind sharp then the interruption becomes a reset, not a regression.

In football, every pause is a test of character. Tella’s next chapter will depend less on when he returns, and more on how he returns. For Nigeria watchers, the hope is clear: when he steps back onto the pitch, he steps into form, not just fitness.

Did You Know?

1. Nathan Tella’s knee injury occurred in September when Leverkusen beat Eintracht Frankfurt the club later revealed it was more serious than initially thought.
2. Head coach Kasper Hjulmand has indicated that the upcoming international break is seen as a vital window for Tella’s reintegration into full training sessions.
3. Prior to his recent injury, Tella featured for Leverkusen and had solid contributions, making his return highly anticipated by both club and national team supporters.
4. Tella underwent a full ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) injury earlier in his career; his current injury narrative references that past experience in framing his current recovery.
5. The Super Eagles’ upcoming fixtures will likely place increased value on players returning match‑fit and in form — Tella’s regression into the squad thus carries national team implications as well as club ones.