Training ground filling up

More players return from injury and international duty

The boys were back in town today! Although it will be “step by step” progress to get the full squad back together according to Pal Dardai. The day before saw just nine outfield players in full training, but the group size had grown considerably on Tuesday morning. Vladimir Darida, Peter Pekarik joined Florian Kohls and Mike Owusu from light training on Monday while Vedad Ibisevic and Rune Jarstein were back from international duty. Ibisevic’s return was a personal choice, which was made earlier than expected. “I didn’t call Vedad, he made the decision himself to come back,” explained Dardai about his captain’s decision. “I was only ever meant to play one game,” said Ibisevic, “because the manager wanted to give the youngsters a run out against Albania. As a result I can get ready for Friday’s big game with Hoffenheim.”

Kalou and Brooks work individually

The number of those training individually also grew on Tuesday morning. John Brooks and Salomon Kalou returned to the training field and worked with Ondrej Duda and Alexander Baumjohann. “John didn’t have a physical injury he just needed time to recover from a bug,” said Dardai. “If he can train with us on Wednesday then there is a chance he’ll play on Friday,”added the coach. Kalou will decide himself whether he is fit to play. “I told Salomon he does not need to take any risks. We don’t want to have to substitute anyone after 15 minutes.”

Mittelstädt for Plattenhardt

Dardai will almost certainly be without Marvin Plattenhardt on Friday and his place at left back is likely to be taken by Maximillian Mittelstädt. “Maxi will probably play in that position,” said Dardai. The fresh-faced 20-year-old added “I have always said I would like to be there if the coach needed me,” said the man from Berlin. It won’t be the first time the youngster has lined up on the left side of defence this season and earned the trust of his boss after impressive performances against Mönchengladbach, Ingolstadt in the Bundesliga and Dortmund in the DFB Pokal.

The boys were back in town today! Although it will be “step by step” progress to get the full squad back together according to Pal Dardai. The day before saw just nine outfield players in full training, but the group size had grown considerably on Tuesday morning. Vladimir Darida, Peter Pekarik joined Florian Kohls and Mike Owusu from light training on Monday while Vedad Ibisevic and Rune Jarstein were back from international duty. Ibisevic’s return was a personal choice, which was made earlier than expected. “I didn’t call Vedad, he made the decision himself to come back,” explained Dardai about his captain’s decision. “I was only ever meant to play one game,” said Ibisevic, “because the manager wanted to give the youngsters a run out against Albania. As a result I can get ready for Friday’s big game with Hoffenheim.”

Kalou and Brooks work individually

The number of those training individually also grew on Tuesday morning. John Brooks and Salomon Kalou returned to the training field and worked with Ondrej Duda and Alexander Baumjohann. “John didn’t have a physical injury he just needed time to recover from a bug,” said Dardai. “If he can train with us on Wednesday then there is a chance he’ll play on Friday,”added the coach. Kalou will decide himself whether he is fit to play. “I told Salomon he does not need to take any risks. We don’t want to have to substitute anyone after 15 minutes.”

Mittelstädt for Plattenhardt

Dardai will almost certainly be without Marvin Plattenhardt on Friday and his place at left back is likely to be taken by Maximillian Mittelstädt. “Maxi will probably play in that position,” said Dardai. The fresh-faced 20-year-old added “I have always said I would like to be there if the coach needed me,” said the man from Berlin. It won’t be the first time the youngster has lined up on the left side of defence this season and earned the trust of his boss after impressive performances against Mönchengladbach, Ingolstadt in the Bundesliga and Dortmund in the DFB Pokal.