Deniz Undav and Jamie Leweling have been missing from VfB Stuttgart for several weeks. Today, the two offensive players mixed with their colleagues on the pitch again. However, it is not certain whether they will be involved in the game against FC St. Pauli on Saturday. It remains a question of risk.
On Tuesday, the runners-up entered the last week of training before Christmas and the turn of the year. Also present: Undav and Leweling, who both tore a muscle in their left hamstrings at the beginning and middle of November respectively, and were back among their colleagues on the pitch today. With woolly hats but shorts, the buddies and colleagues took part in the session and fueled hopes of a return to the team.
Whether the Stuttgart offensive players will actually find a place in the squad on Saturday against the promoted team from Hamburg remains questionable. Even though Sebastian Hoeneß was optimistic from the outset that “we will see them on the pitch again this year”. However, the coach’s ideal has not yet been fulfilled. Before the game at 1. FC Heidenheim, the 42-year-old said when asked about it: “As I said before, it has to go well. But the situation has not changed. We will reassess it next week.”
Hoeneß will have to assess whether he urgently needs Undav and Leweling. How far the healing process has progressed. Whether it is really worth the risk of a setback, especially in the winter temperatures. Especially since the Swabians have climbed to 6th place in the table without their figureheads thanks to a winning streak of three wins and a draw in their last four Bundesliga games, putting them in the top third of the league.
Tactical change bears fruit
The tactical change with Nick Woltemade in the usual 4-2-3-1, but slightly brought forward as a hanging point behind or next to Ermedin Demirovic, has recently borne fruit and the Bremen native has made a formative contribution with his qualities. Stuttgart is on target. Fabian Rieder, who can play on the wing as well as in the center, and Justin Diehl, who, with his recent substitutions, has shown good performances for more playing time, also offer further options for the offensive positions.
If Undav and Leweling feel physically ready and the Stuttgart doctors give the green light for a nomination, Hoeneß should weigh up everything very carefully again. A place in the squad would probably be in it then, just in case things don’t go as planned against the promoted team from the north.