SV Werder kicked off their preparation for the second half of the Bundesliga season with an open training session on Monday. With snow on the ground and wintry temperatures, manager Viktor Skripnik put his side through an intensive session with plenty of running and passing exercises, as well as some tactical work on the Weser Stadion training pitches.

Among those training was Zlatko Junuzovic, who returned to training after missing the end of 2015 with a dislocated shoulder. The Austrian was able to complete some light ball-work exercises as he continues his recovery to full fitness.

"We had enough time during the break to analyse the mistakes we made in the first half of the season. It's important that we go into this phase of preparation fully concentrated and that the team are at full fitness as quickly as possible," Skripnik told. "We have some tough weeks ahead so we can start the second half of the season as best as possible. We want to work our way out of this situation together as a team," said Jannik Vestergaard.

The Green Whites will continue to train on home soil until Wednesday, before they set off to the training camp in Belek on Thursday. The warmer conditions should prove an ideal setting for the team to prepare themselves for a successful second half of the season. For the sake of cohesion between the two sides, the Werder U23s will be training just a few kilometres away in the Turkish Riviera.

Striker Aron Jóhannsson will not be travelling with the team to Belek. "He's not there yet and he needs more time. He will stay in Bremen and undertake an individual training programme," explained Viktor Skripnik. Raphael Wolf and Özkan Yildirim will also stay in Bremen to complete their respective rehab programmes.