Austria’s David Alaba and his teammates practice during a training session, ahead of Thursday’s Nations League play-off soccer match against Serbia. Florian Haselmayer/APA/dpa
Real Madrid defender David Alaba is set for a comeback into Austria’s national team after 16 months in Thursday’s Nations League play-off match against Serbia.
Captain Alaba took part in the full training session on Tuesday ahead of the first leg match for promotion into League A. The return leg is on Sunday in Belgrade.
Alaba, 32, last played for his country in a 2-0 victory over Germany in a November 2023 friendly which was his 105th cap. He suffered a severe knee injury shortly afterwards which also ruled him out of Euro 2024.
He returned to action at Real in January and is now back in the Austrian squad.
“I feel very good. I am on very good path to be in top shape again soon,” he recently told the Austrian Press Agency.
Rangnick however left it open how much playing time Alaba would get against Serbia.
“We all have to make sure that he stays healthy. I don’t consider it very likely that he can play both matches over the full distance,” Rangnick said.