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Haller in Dortmund’s training squad after cancer treatment

January 6, 2023 GMT

FILE - Ajax's Sebastien Haller celebrates scoring his side's second goal during the Champions League group C soccer match between Besiktas and Ajax at the Vodafone Park Stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Wednesday, Nov. 24, 2021. Ivory Coast striker Sébastien Haller is back in training at Borussia Dortmund after nearly six months away from soccer with testicular cancer. Haller posted pictures Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, of himself training in the gym at Dortmund and said 2023 will see him return to the field. (AP Photo, File)

DORTMUND, Germany (AP) — Sébastien Haller was included in Borussia Dortmund’s squad Friday when the team flew to a winter training camp in Spain, in the latest step toward the Ivory Coast striker’s return to action following treatment for testicular cancer.

Haller needed two operations and chemotherapy after the diagnosis emerged in July during a pre-season training camp in Switzerland. That was shortly after he had signed for Dortmund from Ajax and before he had played a game for his new team.

Haller trained in the gym when the squad assembled Monday following the long break in Germany after the World Cup. Dortmund said Friday that Haller and the injured right-back Mateu Morey “want to take the next steps on site toward a comeback” as part of the 28-player squad during the camp, which runs through to Jan. 14.

Dortmund’s first game after the winter break is on Jan. 22 at home to Augsburg in the Bundesliga.

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