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Haller reacts to the 'great moment' he returned following cancer battle The Ivorian forward made his long-awaited return to football after a six-month fight with cancer.
Borussia Dortmund and Ivory Coast striker, Sebastien Haller, has reacted to his return to football following a long absence.
Haller played his first game for Bundesliga side Dortmund since he joined the club last summer after coming on as a substitute in a 5-1 win over Fortuna Dusseldorf in a friendly.
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The 28-year-old had his debut delayed after missing the last six months due to a battle with testicular cancer.
He underwent two surgeries and chemotherapy during his time out before he was cleared to return to training in late December.
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Haller happy to be back
Following his 16-minute cameo show against Dusseldorf, the Ivorian is happy to be back doing what he loves.
He spoke moments after the game and revealed it was a great moment for him and he is looking forward to playing more.
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"It was a great moment," Haller told journalists per Bundesliga.com "I got a lot of applause, I got a lot of messages. Finally, after six months, I was really looking forward to play. When you sign for a club, you want to play direct. Now I hope I will play games."
"It’s a way better feeling than running in the forest. This feeling was missing the last months. That’s why I want to be on the pitch for the rest of the season, to play as many minutes as I can and stay fit."
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Haller looking to be ready for Dortmund
With the Bundesliga set to return after the World Cup and winter breaks, the former Ajax star could be ready in time for his competitive debut for the Black and Yellows.
However, despite making his comeback in a friendly, Haller just wants to ensure he is fully ready to be 'useful' to his side.
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"Participating is one thing, but being useful for the team is something else," he added. "I need to be sure I can help them and bring something."
Borussia Dortmund will host FC Augsburg at the Signal Iduna Park when the Bundesliga returns on January 22.
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19:39 - 10.01.2023
BUNDESLIGA Sebastian Haller plays first match since cancer diagnosis
Borussia Dortmund's Ivorian striker Sebastian Haller has played his first match after beating cancer
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