Borussia Dortmund has been handed a sliver of positive news amid a mounting defensive crisis: full-back Yan Couto is showing promising signs of recovery from a knee injury sustained during their opening German Cup clash, according to head coach Niko Kovač. The Brazilian defender, though still sporting a leg brace, participated in parts of training earlier this week, signalling a potential return to action sooner than feared. However, whether Couto will be fit in time for Saturday’s Bundesliga opener against St. Pauli remains uncertain.
The injury, which occurred in stoppage time of Dortmund’s narrow 1‑0 win over third-division Rot-Weiss Essen, followed a reckless challenge by opposing player Kelsey Owusu. The severity of the tackle prompted initial concerns over a long-term absence.
Couto’s recovery comes at a critical moment. The club’s defensive ranks are already stretched thin, with key defenders Emre Can, Nico Schlotterbeck, and Niklas Süle sidelined by injuries. Süle’s absence, in particular, has left the centre-back position in disarray for the foreseeable future.
Kovač, who took charge of Dortmund earlier this year and steered the team from 10th to 4th place in the Bundesliga, is eager to avoid more setbacks. Speaking after training, he expressed cautious optimism about Couto’s progress, highlighting the defender’s time on the pitch—even in his strapped condition—as encouraging.
As the club braces for the Bundesliga kickoff, there is still no clarity on Couto’s availability for the clash against St. Pauli. Nonetheless, his accelerating return offers a welcome glimmer of hope in a campaign already beginning under pressure.
