Just six days separate last week’s game with Darmstadt 98 and this Friday’s game with Bayer Leverkusen. As a result the race against time to be fit for those with small knocks is also limited. Therefore, news of certain players returning to training ahead of Friday’s game with Leverkusen is definitely pleasing to hear.
Thanks to his mask, Thomas Delaney was able to train with the first team for the first time since fracturing his face and suffering concussion. His participation on Friday is however still in doubt. “Obviously I would like to be involved on Friday but we will have to wait and see how I get through these training sessions,” he said. He finished his workout with the main squad on Tuesday about fifteen minutes earlier than his teammates.
Zlatko Junuzovic, who had to come off against Darmstadt with a back injury, appears to have successfully rested in the two day break and was back training with his teammates on Tuesday. After going through the warm-up, he trained individually with Claudio Pizarro, practising sprinting and co-ordination.
Further positive news comes from the fact that Philipp Bargfrede also took part in the full training on Tuesday. The 28-year-old midfielder was suffering from a pelvic injury at the end of last week and trained alone on Sunday and Monday. He was not joined however by Max Kruse, who trained individually in the Weser Stadium and did not join his teammates on the training pitch at any point.
