Poulsen to face former club Leipzig, eyes HSV starting XI spot | OneFootball

At HSV, the focus ahead of the upcoming clash with RB Leipzig is once again on the personnel situation in attack.

At the center of attention is captain Yussuf Poulsen, who, after his long injury break, is increasingly taking on an important role in coach Merlin Polzin’s team.

As usual, at the start of the week Polzin, together with doctors and physiotherapists, took a detailed look at the fitness status of his players. The coaching staff was particularly eager this time to hear the assessment of Poulsen, who played around 30 minutes in the 1-1 draw in Mainz. After similar workloads in the past, the Dane often had to take it easy in training. This time as well, he initially completed an individual program.

Nevertheless, Polzin was not worried. “Given his history, we pay special attention to him. But Yussi will be training with the team at the latest by tomorrow and will be available to us on Sunday,” Polzin is quoted as saying by the Hamburger Abendblatt.

Photo: IMAGO

HSV: Poulsen competing with Downs and Glatzel

This even makes a starting eleven appearance against Poulsen’s former club Leipzig a possibility. The striker himself was optimistic after his comeback. “I already feel very good, as you could see from the intense minutes I put in,” Poulsen said happily. “I’m glad to be fully fit again.”

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After his serious ankle injury in December, he is now part of an open three-way battle for the position at the center of attack. While Ransford Königsdörffer seems set as a supporting striker and loan returnee Otto Stange is going through a difficult phase, Poulsen, Robert Glatzel, and Damion Downs are competing for the open spot up front.

Glatzel was trusted in the last two matches in a row, while winter signing Downs did not make an appearance during the same period. Against Leipzig, however, the US boy’s tremendous pace could be in demand again. But Poulsen will also want to have his say in the battle for a starting spot in the coming days.

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