Captain Dedryck Boyata is out for three league games with a red suspension. So the return of other defenders comes just in time for Hertha BSC.
Marton Dardai and Marvin Plattenhardt, two of the professionals who were scheduled for the game in Sinsheim (0:2) last Friday but had to pull out at short notice due to muscular complaints, were among those who took part in this week’s 90-minute kick-off session on Wednesday afternoon. In the upcoming home match against Bayer Leverkusen, both are expected to return to the Berlin starting eleven: left-back Plattenhardt was on his way to old form before his absence against Hoffenheim – and centre-back Dardai is urgently needed in view of captain Boyatas three-game suspension.
In addition to the duo, someone who had been a fence-sitter for more than six weeks also returned: Jordan Torunarigha, who suffered a muscle injury in his thigh in the 3-1 win in Bochum on 12 September, completed the entire training session on Wednesday. In view of the long period of absence, it is rather doubtful whether a place in the squad awaits him against Leverkusen. But after the international break, the former German U-21 international should be available again without restrictions for league action.
This has considerably reduced the number of injured players, which at times almost reached team size in the first quarter of the season and significantly restricted coach Pal Dardai’s room for manoeuvre. The only player still missing is Lukas Klünter, who suffered a serious shoulder injury – also during the match in Bochum – and had to undergo surgery.
