Josip Stanišić on the brink of returning for Bayern Munich | OneFootball

Bayern Munich are entering a phase of fixture congestion before the winter break. The Bavarian club is playing a game every three games. Vincent Kompany will need the entire squad during this stretch to make sure Bayern end the year strongly.

The Belgian coach will receive a significant boost in the coming days as Josip Stanišić steps up in training to come back from a knee injury. According to Bild, Stanišić was spotted in training with the Kompany’s assistant coach- Floribert N'Galula. The Croatian defender is close to joining the first team in training.

Stanišić has not played for Bayern this season. The Croatian defender suffered a serious knee injury during pre-season, which ruled him out for several months. Die Roten have been careful about his recovery since he has a big role to play in the second half of the season.

Stanišić’s return will give Kompany more flexibility in defense

There was a lot of speculation about the future of Stanišić at Bayern during the second half of last season as he excelled for Bayer Leverkusen. The Croatian defender gained significant game time under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen. The defending champions were reportedly keen on signing Stanišić on a permanent deal.

However, Bayern had different plans for Stanišić. They want him to be part of Kompany’s plans for the new season. After a productive loan spell, Bayern quickly secured the future of Stanišić and extended his contract until 2029 at the start of the summer.

Stanišić is a top-quality utility player to have in the squad. He can play at a good level in almost every defensive options. The 24-year-old defender is very good on the ball and works tirelessly out of possession. He will suit the style of football Kompany wants Bayern to play every week. His versatility will be a big asset for the Belgian coach.

The Croatian defender is unlikely to play against Borussia Dortmund, but a return against Shakhtar Donetsk on December 10 should be a realistic scenario for him.

While Stanišić is closing on a return, Bayern will have to wait longer for Aleksandar Pavlović and João Palhinha. The young German midfielder is recovering from a shoulder injury, while Palhinha suffered a serious muscle injury during the international break.

Bayern Munich won first of their three big games in seven days as they clinched a narrow 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday. The Bavarian club will travel to Dortmund on Saturday in the Bundesliga.