Werder get Njinmah back for Hoffenheim clash, eight players ruled out
Coach Daniel Thioune can count on striker Justin Njinmah again against Hoffenheim on Saturday. Deman is doubtful, and an Under-23 knock rules out Erevbenagie.
Archive image · Photo: Moinsen95 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Werder Bremen will have Justin Njinmah available again for Saturday's Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim (1430 GMT). The striker has recovered from a thigh injury and is in the squad, but coach Daniel Thioune said he is not yet ready to start. "He can play half an hour, maybe more," Thioune said.
Left-back Olivier Deman, sidelined by a tendon injury in his foot, is doubtful. He trained with the team for the first time on Thursday but is still in pain. He is expected to take part in Friday's final session. "He won't be pain-free," Thioune said.
Paul Erevbenagie is a new absentee after getting hurt in the Under-23 side's 4-1 defeat to Hamburger SV II; he will miss the weekend and MRI results are pending. Felix Agu, Jens Stage, Salim Musah, Skelly Alvero and Niklas Stark are out with muscle injuries, Moussa Ndiaye has a groin problem and Keke Topp is recovering from a cruciate ligament tear.