If all goes according to plan, Hamburg captain Yussuf Poulsen should be ready for his first Bundesliga minutes since late August this weekend. As it turns out, the Hamburger SV skipper is back fit just in time to face his old club RB Leipzig. HSV head coach Merlin Polzin confirmed this news at a Friday pre-match press conference. Poulsen should once again stride onto the pitch at the Red Bull Arena.
Poulsen- acquired from his longtime club during the offseason – has thus far logged only 50 league minutes through six matchdays this season. The 31-year-old’s struggle with injury means he hasn’t featured at all since matchday two. Poulsen made Polzin’s matchday squad against Mainz in the last game prior to the international break, but remained unused off the bench.
Polzin – having taken some heat for his decision to anoint Poulsen captain – has frequently been placed in the position of defending his decision. On Friday, Polzin’s defensive posture gave way to enthusiasm. The 34-year-old appeared animated when discussing the prospect of the veteran striker earning meaningful minutes at his old stomping ground.
“We’ve been talking with him and undertaking an analysis of RB,” Polzin said on Friday. “The conversations with ‘Yussi’ have mostly centered around his view of the fundamentals in Leipzig. He wants to communicate and help the boys. We’ve increased his [Poulsen’s] workload [in training] recently and he should be ready for 90 minutes before the first half of the season concludes.
“He’s available and eager to play,” Polzin continued. “We want to make the most of his qualities on and off the pitch. It’s good to have someone under your command who is restless and eager to help his team.“
“It’s clear that I won’t be playing 90 minutes against Leipzig, but I’m feeling very good and ready,” Poulsen himself said at a club media appearance midweek.
