AaB hope to keep up appearances

Denmark's Aalborg BK have a European heritage to uphold as they face FC Honka Espoo of Finland in the UEFA Intertoto Cup second round this weekend. The Superligaen side not only reached the UEFA Cup first round two years ago, they are also one of just three Danish clubs to have appeared in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Match fitness
Yet if they are to equal the 2006/07 achievements of Odense BK, who got to the UEFA Cup group stage via the UEFA Intertoto Cup, AaB must overcome a Honka team who, with the Veikkausliiga up and running, have the edge in terms of match fitness. Erik Hamrén's men have only recently started pre-season training after the summer break and will be without United States defender Danny Califf, who is on Copa América duty.

OB draw
Indeed, several regulars were absent on Tuesday night when AaB drew 1-1 against OB in their last warm-up game before the first leg in Finland, although with the exception of new goalkeeper Karim Zaza - recovering from a shoulder injury - and Califf, Hamrén should have a full squad available come Sunday. "The main purpose of the friendly was to get match practice before going to Finland," said the Swedish coach.

Keeping concerns
Much of the summer has been spent looking to fill the void left by goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen, who joined Leicester City FC after a 12-year stay. "Jimmy was such a loyal player for us, for so many years, that we would not have dreamt of standing in his way when he got his chance," said AaB sporting director Lynge Jakobsen. Nielsen's successor, 32-year-old Moroccan international Zaza, arrived last week from SC Rot-Weiss Essen but injury may be endangering his AaB career before it has even got off the ground. The club have given their custodian a fitness deadline, with Zaza reluctant to return too hastily. "I do not want to rush my recovery," he said. "I will be at AaB for either one month or two years."

Würtz departure
One player whose AaB sojourn has come to an end is Danish international Rasmus Würtz, who has signed for champions FC København. "After five seasons at AaB, I felt ready to try something new," said Würtz on Friday, leaving Jakobsen in need of recruits. "We will probably require two more midfielders," said the sporting director. AaB have also suffered the departures of Norwegian midfielder Fredrik Winsnes and Thomas Kortegaard this summer.