Hamburg used the international break to beat FC Copenhagen 2-0, but the more important update came from Yussuf Poulsen. The Danish forward left the pitch after 20 minutes following a blow to the area between his knee and calf, then said he expects to be fit for the trip to Hoffenheim.
Hamburg win, Poulsen avoids a longer lay-off
Kofi Amoako and Nicolai Remberg scored in the friendly victory over Copenhagen. Poulsen’s early substitution briefly added to Merlin Polzin’s concerns, with Hamburg already short of attacking options.
The 32-year-old asked to come off soon after taking the knock. He later played down the issue.
- “There were no points at stake in this game, so after the blow I preferred to come off,” Poulsen said.
- “Do not worry. I will be available against Hoffenheim.”
- Hamburg have managed Poulsen’s workload carefully since pre-season.
- He had not played more than 45 minutes in any appearance before the Copenhagen test.
That approach had helped the former RB Leipzig striker provide a useful option after an injury-hit previous campaign, when his influence was often felt more in the dressing room than on the pitch.
Three attacking absences test Polzin’s options
Polzin had hoped the break after Hamburg’s first league win of the season, a 2-1 result against Cologne, would allow individual players to build fitness. Instead, injuries have removed three forwards from his plans.
- Albert Grönbaek has a muscle fibre tear.
- Terem Moffi is sidelined with knee trouble.
- Patson Daka has suffered a thigh muscle fibre tear and is expected to miss around three weeks.
Daka had initially left Zambia duty with what had been described as a muscular complaint. Further examination in Hamburg revealed the more serious thigh injury.
Before Poulsen’s reassuring update, he had been Hamburg’s only established central striker ahead of 19-year-old Otto Stange. Another attacking injury during the break would have been difficult to cover at short notice.
Vieira offers a possible emergency solution
Stange replaced Poulsen against Copenhagen, while Fabio Vieira moved into the centre as a false nine. The Portuguese player showed clearer signs of sharpness after following an individual conditioning programme.
Vieira had arrived without completing a full pre-season at Arsenal. His role in the test may nevertheless give Polzin another option if Hamburg’s forward shortage continues into the next Bundesliga fixture at Hoffenheim.
