Squad update: Quintet back on the pitch

Tim Walter pencilled in two sessions for Wednesday, and things continued where they left off on Thursday morning at the Volkspark. The pitch was at capacity, as five of HSV’s first-team players returned to the fold after short absences from full training; Immanuel Pherai, Ignace Van der Brempt, Jean-Luc Dompe, Stephan Ambrosius and Fabio Balde were all involved in the morning’s session. Walter has almost a full complement of players to select from ahead of the weekend’s home game against Karlsruhe SC, with Ransford Königsdörffer already back from AFCON duty and training in the gym on Thursday.

Lukasz Poreba continues to be absent, with the midfielder suffering from a cold, as is Masaya Okugawa, who left training early on Tuesday. Both should ideally be back in the fold sooner rather than later. Either way, the coach will be able to field a strong team on Sunday, with left-back Miro Muheim also available again following a two-game suspension. The goal for the game against Karlsruhe, who managed a 2-2 draw in the reverse fixture, is clear – after the two away victories at Nürnberg and Schalke, HSV are hoping for a third successive victory this weekend.