Van der Vaart relief for Hamburg
Sunday, October 8, 2006
Article summary
Hamburger SV are breathing a sigh of relief after Dutch international playmaker Rafael van der Vaart returned to full training following a thigh injury.
Article body
Hamburger SV are breathing a sigh of relief after Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart returned to full training following a thigh injury.
Torn ligaments
The 23-year-old former AFC Ajax captain damaged ligaments in his left thigh during Hamburg's 1-1 draw against Hertha BSC Berlin in late August and has not played since. UEFA Champions League contenders Hamburg have looked a shadow of their usual selves in his absence. Thomas Doll's side have failed to win a Bundesliga game, lost their opening two UEFA Champions League Group G matches, and bowed out of the German Cup to third division SV Stuttgarter Kickers.
Gradual recovery
For all their hopes of recovering the influential playmaker, Van der Vaart seems unlikely to be fit for next Saturday's league meeting with FC Schalke 04, saying: "I still feel pain whenever I move suddenly, but the situation is getting better every day." Doll added: "There is no pressure on Rafael - he has all the time he needs." Van der Vaart's impending return should at least lessen the blow of losing defender Guy Demel for three months to a thigh problem which requires surgery.
