Whilst their fellow team mates prepare for the season opener against Hertha BSC, the focus of Theodor Gebre Selassie, Philipp Bargfrede, Özkan Yildirim and Julian von Haacke is set on quickly recovering from injury, in order to get back into action on the pitch as soon as possible.

In the past week, there was some extremely bad news for Theodor Gebre Selassie. Having enjoyed a very good period of pre-season preparation, the Czech international was diagnosed with an oedema in his right thighbone. „The situation is very frustrating. When you've trained through the complete pre-season programme and then suffer a setback right before the first game, that's bitter pill to swallow, but I am optimistic and looking to the future," explained ‚Theo‘, who cannot yet say exactly when he will be back on the pitch.

Philipp Bargfrede, who had been undergoing treatment in Traunreut on Chiemsee in recent weeks, returned to Bremen at the weekend, brandishing some good tidings: „My knee feels really good. I hope things continue to go well over the next few days so that I can run for a longer period following my return," explained Werder's number 44, adding: „I firmly believe that I can continue to make further progress together with the physiotherapists in Bremen."

The impressive work being done by the physios in Bremen has also been of great benefit to Özkan Yildirim over the past few months. Following his groin operation, the Green-White's energy bundle is also well on the road to recovery, as is Julian von Haacke, whose comeback is now in sight, as he quickly recovers from the cruciate ligament tear he incurred with the ‘Under 23' team back in April. "It's going well. I have begun with some light jogging again and I am slowly working in some jumping exercises. We are gradually increasing the intensity. Next we will reintroduce the ball and some sprinting. I am slowly heading back towards being competitive again," insisted von Haacke.