First team

Squad update from the Volkspark

Those who were involved in the international break are returning one by one, with three others absent from training due to illness. HSV.de have taken a look at the the Rothosen's current squad situation.

HSV took to the training pitch at the Volksparkstadion on a very sunny, yet unpleasantly chilly Wednesday afternoon to continue their preparations for the upcoming league fixture against SpVgg Greuther Fürth on Saturday afternoon (13:00 CEST). The mixed weather conditions could be seen as a pathetic fallacy of the current squad situation in Tim Walter’s side. Defenders Dennis Hadzikadunic and Valon Zumberi have returned to training in Hamburg after spells with their national teams to complete recovery sessions, while captain Sebastian Schonlau and centre forward Andras Nemeth worked individually. Three of the Rothosen are currently absent from training due to illness. It is unclear as to whether Immanuel Pherai, Miro Muheim, and Laszlo Benes, who also recently arrived back in Hamburg after the international break, will be ready for the upcoming fixture, as they are all only just recovering from infections. Anssi Suhonen, who has suffered with a number of injuries in the past, will definitely not be involved in the squad against Fürth. The 22-year-old midfielder, who recently suffered another fracture to his fibia and required an operation, is currently taking the first few steps in his rehabilitation programme, and is fired up to make yet another comeback.

Crossing practice and strength training

The Rothosen trained with great enthusiasm in Wednesday morning’s session, which focused on technical skills and tactics. U21 centre-half Luis Seifert (photo, middle) and U19 midfielder Bilal Yalcinkaya were involved in the session, in which improving crossing accuracy and timing was a particular focal point. That could prove very beneficial given that the Rothosen have crossed the ball 127 times so far this season, the third most in the second division, with 26 percent of them being judged as “successful” (the seventh best rate in the league). In addition to crossing practice, the HSV first-team players played a game with several small goals in a tight area. A strength training session was also on the agenda for Walter’s players on Wednesday afternoon in the weight room, before working on the finishing touches in the next couple of days ahead of the home fixture against Fürth. Hopefully, Stephan Ambrosius and Ransford Königsdörffer, who both were not brought on for Ghana in their 4-0 loss to the USA in Nashville in the early hours of Wednesday morning, will be back in team training to prepare for the weekend, along with those who have recovered from injuries.