Hoffenheim hitman ready to strike again

As the 2008/09 German season went into its winter break, everything seemed possible for Vedad Ibišević. With 18 goals in 17 games, the Bosnian striker was the most dazzling weapon in promoted TSG 1899 Hoffenheim's armoury as they strode to the top of the table, with the title a serious possibility. There was even talk that the striker might break Gerd Müller's record of 40 Bundesliga goals in a single season, set in 1971/72.

Serious injury
However, Ibišević's dreams – and ultimately Hoffenheim's – were dashed on 12 January as the 24-year-old tore cruciate ligaments in his knee while at a winter training camp in La Manga, Spain. With their talisman laid off, Hoffenheim went into decline, going 12 league matches without a win after returning to action with a 2-0 victory against FC Energie Cottbus. They ended up finishing seventh.

Positive thinking
"It was not an easy situation," recalled Ibišević, who left his home country as a teenager, finding his way to Hoffenheim in 2007 following spells with St Louis Strikers, Chicago Fire, Paris Saint-Germain FC, Dijon FCO and TSV Alemannia Aachen. "As a player, this kind of injury is the worst thing you can imagine, but you have to try to see something positive and to stay optimistic. Every two to three weeks there were small advances and I was able to do something new. I remember exactly how much I rejoiced in these small things."

Back in training
Hoffenheim never gave up on the striker, and recently rewarded him with a new contract until 2013, with general manager Jan Schindelmeiser maintaining that "it was not just his goals that made Vedad an important part of our success story last season". Having returned to full training with his team-mates on 29 June, Ibišević will now look to prove that he is no one-season wonder. "We have missed him and have all been looking forward to his return," said team-mate and compatriot Sejad Salihović. "He will soon be scoring in matches the way he has been in training."

'Where he left off'
Coach Ralf Rangnick has been pleasantly surprised by the condition Ibišević is in. "I did not expect him to be this agile and to be playing with such intensity," he explained. "You can see all the virtues that made him such a prolific goalscorer again. He still has his instincts in front of goal. He is continuing where he left off." Nevertheless, Rangnick is not without concerns. "I am not worried about his state of mind, but it all comes down to the question of whether that first injury will lead to others," he said.

'Special motivation'
That is a question which Ibišević is putting to the back of his mind. For the moment, he is thrilled just to be back playing with his team, explaining: "It is so much more fun being with the squad rather than training alone." His return to competitive action, meanwhile, should come in Hoffenheim's 8 August Bundesliga opener against FC Bayern München. "I scored my last Bundesliga goal against Bayern before I tore my cruciate ligaments," he recalled. "That gives me special motivation."