Hamburger SV will have to manage without Albert Grönbaek for the time being after the Denmark midfielder suffered a muscle fibre tear in his right thigh during the international break.
The 25-year-old was injured in Denmark’s 3-2 defeat in Norway on Thursday. Grönbaek came on in the 82nd minute in Oslo but left the pitch with his right thigh strapped. Denmark coach Brian Riemer confirmed afterwards that the player was injured and would depart the national-team camp.
MRI scans, carried out with Denmark’s medical staff in consultation with HSV, confirmed the tear on Saturday. Neither club nor country has set a return date.
The setback interrupts an excellent opening to the campaign. Grönbaek had been involved in four of Hamburg’s five competitive goals after an eye-catching pre-season, travelling on international duty with growing confidence and a central role in the side.
A difficult absence for Hamburg
HSV have used Grönbaek as one of the two advanced creators in their 3-4-2-1 shape. His technique and ability to operate across midfield have made him difficult to replace, particularly while Fabio Vieira is still working towards full sharpness.
It is another frustrating interruption for a player whose progress has repeatedly been slowed by injuries. A loan spell at Genoa did not develop as hoped because of fitness problems. Rennes then sent him to Hamburg in January, where a muscle injury delayed his start again before he established himself as a major asset.
Hamburg made the move permanent in the summer for €4.7 million, a fee that had quickly looked well spent. Denmark team-mate Poulsen recently said Grönbaek could raise his market value quickly because he “can do virtually everything in attack”. For now, though, the midfielder faces another period of recovery.
