Borussia Dortmund have received the best possible news on Konstantinos Karetsas, with coach Niko Kovac confirming the 18-year-old has already returned to individual training after his alarming collapse during the Champions League opener against Villarreal. Dehydration was confirmed as the cause by his mother, Irena Kitsinis, and all medical checks came back clear. Kovac indicated Karetsas could be available as soon as the Stuttgart fixture next week, a significant relief for a squad already stretched by injuries.

That squad depth has been tested heavily in the opening weeks. Fellow new signing Giannis Konstantelias, who arrived from PAOK for a reported 26 million euros, suffered a cruciate ligament injury on the first Bundesliga matchday and faces months on the sideline. His operation was completed successfully, but his absence is a long-term concern. Arsenal loanee Ethan Nwaneri has stepped in on the right flank, while defensive absentees Nico Schlotterbeck, Emre Can and Filippo Mane have added further pressure on the group.

Despite the disruption, results have been positive. BVB beat Paderborn 2-0 on Saturday to maintain their perfect Bundesliga start, sitting third with six points from two games. Joey Veerman has been the standout addition, producing 99 touches and 82 accurate passes from 87 attempts in the Villarreal win, drawing comparisons to Toni Kroos. With Karetsas nearing a return and the squad finding its rhythm, Dortmund's early-season trajectory looks encouraging.