HSV infection scare: Three attackers out for Freiburg clash | OneFootball

HSV must embark on the journey to Freiburg with a significantly weakened offensive lineup. Three players have been affected.

In addition to Robert Glatzel, for whom it is still too early to play, and the long-term injured captain Yussuf Poulsen, head coach Merlin Polzin has lost more offensive players in recent days. “Fabio Balde, Anssi Suhonen, and Rayan Philippe are unavailable to us due to illness,” Polzin explained on Thursday afternoon at the press conference. 

Additionally, there are the absences of defensive players Warmed Omari and Aboubaka Soumahoro. While Omari has already participated in parts of team training and is persistently working on his comeback, the 20-year-old Soumahoro has to sit out at short notice. “Abou complained of knee problems after the first training sessions,” Polzin explained. “He was already back on the field, but he is not an option for this weekend.”

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HSV: Polzin talks about Downs' debut chances

But there is also positive news: Alongside the recovered Jean-Luc Dompé, Alexander Røssing-Lelesiit is also on the verge of returning. The left winger, who missed much of December due to a muscle fiber tear, is “definitely an option for the squad,” according to Polzin.

Newcomer Damian Downs will also be part of the lineup. HSV only announced the signing of the striker on Wednesday. Before the challenging duel against SC Freiburg, Downs has only three training sessions to integrate into the team – from Polzin's perspective, this is entirely sufficient. “It is essential that Damian understands how we want to play football. But these are things that have been clearly conveyed in training and video analyses.”

In any case, during his first two days in Hamburg, the attacking hopeful left a positive impression. “There is good energy and a good connection between us,” reported Polzin and elaborated: “He has hinted in training at what we expect from him – depth, speed, and a good presence in the box. These are areas where we want to continue developing.” Against Freiburg, Downs could therefore already be “an option for more extended playing time.”

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.