Machida pushes to start again after comeback

Koki Machida has marked his return to Bundesliga action after more than a year on the sidelines due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury. As kicker reports, the Hoffenheim centre-back made his comeback against Stuttgart, and the way he’s back suggests he’s not just settling for limited minutes.

The comeback trend

The outlet points out that, after the long forced absence, Machida appears ready to demand a more prominent role. In short: his return game looks like the beginning of a bigger push.

A place in the XI

For Hoffenheim, this matters because the next objective is to turn a successful comeback into regular starting appearances. kicker’s message is straightforward—Machida seems set to press for a spot in the starting lineup, and the club will be looking to build on what he showed on his return.