Despite a quiet beginning to his Borussia Dortmund career, striker Fabio Silva has received a significant boost from manager Niko Kovač. With the coach hinting at summer departures, his recent comments strongly suggest the Portuguese forward is part of the club's future plans.

Kovač offered a detailed and encouraging assessment of the young attacker in a recent press conference. He acknowledged Silva's initial adaptation period but emphasized the positive trajectory he's now on. "He’s working his way up," Kovač stated. "This shows once again that players need time."

The coach pointed to Silva's growing confidence and physical readiness for the Bundesliga's demands as key factors in his improved training performances. "For the past three or four weeks, I’ve seen a Fábio in training who has really stepped up his game," Kovač revealed, linking this progress directly to increased minutes on the pitch.

While goals have been scarce, Kovač contextualized this, noting, "that’s due to the number of minutes he’s played. The more minutes he gets, the more chances he has to score." This patient, development-focused approach indicates Dortmund's commitment to unlocking the potential that made Silva a highly-touted prospect.

This vote of confidence marks a shift from the speculation that surrounded Silva's future just a few months ago. Now, the narrative suggests he is steadily earning his place, with other attacking options potentially making way in the upcoming transfer window as Dortmund builds for the future.