Just before the end of the season, things are getting tight for the Werder backline. Two days before the Bundesliga match against Eintracht Frankfurt, it looks like both centre backs could be out. After Per Mertesacker suffered a major injury in Bremen's UEFA Cup match against Hamburg, Naldo is now fighting an injury as the Brazilian has a muscle problem in the groin area.

"He had been battling with it for a while but now he can't go anymore. It looks like he might be out," confirmed Thomas Schaaf, who now must look for two centre backs and is happy about having a young player like Sebastian Prödl. About the Austrian, Schaaf said: "He has done his job well when he's been in there."

Positive signals from the injury camp however come from Petri Pasanen and Aaron Hunt. The Finnish international Pasanen returned to team training Monday morning and was given the green light to play in the coming games. Hunt is not quite back from his ankle injury. But signs are good that he could still play a role this season. "Aaron ran yesterday for the first time in a while and today he worked with the ball. But it's still a long way until he's game ready. Now we have to see how he deals with the extra burden," said Schaaf.