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Sven Bender is back in first team training at Borussia Dortmund after playing just two matches this season because of injuries. Bender, 27, suffered an injury while playing for Germany at the 2016 Olympics. The defender returned to action late last year, playing against Hoffenheim and Augsburg, but then injured ankle ligaments in a friendly against Paderborn and has been sidelined ever since. On Thursday, Bender resumed training when he joined players not involved in the Champions League win over Benfica the previous night. His comeback came two weeks after coach Thomas Tuchel had told reporters the defender's recovery had taken longer than expected because of continued pain. During the winter break, Tuchel had identified Bender as one of his team's leaders, telling ESPN FC's Raphael Honigstein that he was "a big personality in the dressing room." Bender has made 154 Bundesliga appearances for Dortmund, mostly as a holding midfielder, but has been moved back into a central defensive role since Tuchel arrived at the club in 2015.
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