Musiala set to make Bayern Munich squad return in Leipzig game

Jamal Musiala is set to return from a severe leg injury that sidelined him for half a year when Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich visit RB Leipzig on Saturday.

"If everything goes well today (in training), he'll be there (in the squad). That's a great thing," coach Vincent Kompany told reporters on Friday.

Kompany stopped short of saying whether Musiala would also get his first minutes but said that Musiala should enjoy the moment of returning "and never forget how this first feeling is.

"He exudes a lot of positive energy. At the moment, even the little things are great. You appreciate everything much more.

"Jamal is experiencing that right now, as is Alphonso Davies. I want to protect both of them. The priority right now is integration. At some point, they'll reach the level they were at before their injuries.

"When you play all the time, your fitness comes from playing. Now he's had time to rebuild his body, strengthen his mobility and speed. That's why injuries give you time to come back even stronger."

German international Musiala broke his fibula and dislocated his ankle in early July in a Club World Cup match against Paris Saint-Germain. He started his return to team training in December. Davies has already returned from a severe knee injury.

Musiala's return is also good news for Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann ahead of the World Cup.

Kompany said as well that Germany captain Joshua Kimmich "might be able to play again" in a return from nagging ankle problems that made him miss several games.

Kimmich could be one of several options as right back because Konrad Laimer and Josip Stanisic are injured and Sacha Boey injured.

Kompany was not too concerned, saying "it could have been worse" and that Laimer and Stanisic are expected back soon.

"We have a lot of absences at right-back, but we've solved that problem in the past. There are lots of other players who can play there. At the start of the season, we had a lot of absences at left-back," he said.

Bayern kick-started the best first half of the season in Bundesliga history with a 6-0 demolition of Leipzig on the opening day but Leipzig have shaken off that big loss and are fourth as they meet again in the reverse fixture.

"Leipzig have a young team, so it can happen that not everything goes perfectly in the first game. They were right behind us for a long time after that and won a lot of games. Many of their players have developed very well. Their coachhas also been there for a while now," he said.

"They're a strong attacking team, so it could be a great game. It will be intense, both teams care capable of scoring goals. It'll be very interesting."

Nothing is won yet for Bayern at this stage which means that the likes of Musiala, Davies and Hiroki Ito, who was also sidelined for months, "haven't missed unforgettable moments" in the season.

"You want to be back in contention for the trophies at the end. That's a huge motivation for them, and we're only just getting started. These players can make a difference," Kompany said.