Former Arsenal midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga in line for first Bundesliga start this weekend | OneFootball

The suspension of Arsenal loanee Fabio Vieira for this weekend’s Bundesliga fixture against Mainz presents a personnel dilemma for Hamburg head coach Merlin Polzin. Viera has proven one of the few bright spots for Hamburger SV this season, providing the assist on one of just two league goals HSV has scored through five Bundesliga matchdays.

Polzin gave every indication that it would be Viera’s fellow former Gunner Albert Sambi Lokonga who would take the Portuguese midfielder’s place. Both players were acquired near the end of the transfer window when it became increasingly apparent that the midfield duo comprised of two other summer acquisitions, Nicolas Capaldo and Nicolai Remberg, wasn’t qualified enough to hack it at Bundesliga level.

If the twice-capped Belgian international can prove his worth alongside Remberg this coming Sunday, some starts together with Vieira may not be far behind. Lokonga has thus far made only two substitute appearances whilst Vieira has played thrice from the start. Remberg has logged maximum minutes through the first five rounds, but the former Holstein Kiel man has not managed to get his name on the scoresheet just yet.

“Fitness-wise, he can now play from the start,” Polzin said of Lokonga on Friday. “It has been shown that it has been good for us to play with a clearly defensive-minded defensive midfielder and an offensive-minded player in the center. Sambi is one of the strongest candidates to play from the beginning.”

In other HSV-related personnel news, the team was rocked by bad news this week when it was revealed that another one of the key summer acquisitions – Stade Rennes loanee Warmed Omari – will be out until the winter break with a sydnesmosis injury. Polzin tapped Guilherme Ramos to start in the Comoros international’s place.

Danish striker Yussuf Poulsen – whom Polzin has taken plenty of flak for naming as his new squad captain – will return from injury and be available off the bench. Injury struggles have prevented Poulsen from see much action this season. The 31-year-old has not suited up for HSV since matchday two.

GGFN | Peter Weis