Albert Sambi Lokonga is almost certain to miss Hamburger SV's Bundesliga home match against VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (15:30). The 26-year-old HSV captain and midfielder is still struggling with a thigh injury sustained in the match against Hoffenheim.
Lokonga only completed individual training with rehab coach Sebastian Capel on Friday. "We want to be careful so as not to take any unnecessary risks," said HSV head coach Merlin Polzin. "The tests and the diagnosis were such that we could gradually increase the load." The trend is clearly against him playing, Polzin added, meaning he must adjust his weekend plans accordingly.
Lokonga's absence would be another major blow to HSV's midfield engine room, already weakened by the long-term cruciate ligament tear suffered by Nicolai Remberg. In the past six matches Lokonga missed through injury, HSV lost all of them with a goal difference of 3:17. According to Polzin, possible options to fill the defensive midfield role include Miro Muheim, Bilal Nadir, or Martin Adeline. One idea is to play Adeline alongside the defensively strong Kofi Amoako and deploy Muheim in a more offensive role on the left half-space.
If Lokonga is ruled out, Nicolas Capaldo would take the captain's armband. For VfB Stuttgart, who are in fine form with four consecutive wins and a confident 3-0 away victory at Slovan Bratislava last time out, their opponent's weakness could present an opportunity. Stuttgart currently sit 12th in the Bundesliga table with 6 points and face direct table neighbours HSV, who are in 13th place, on Saturday. The current run of four wins in their last five games gives Sebastian Hoeneß's team momentum for the trip north.
Saturday afternoon's match at the Volksparkstadion is therefore also a battle for a better position in the lower mid-table. For VfB, it's about continuing their positive run and making up for the three points dropped in their last home game against Dortmund. VfB's upcoming fixtures are listed in our schedule.
The report in full is at Bild Sport
