Dortmund’s Reus eyes comeback in crunch clash with Hamburg

BORUSSIA DORTMUND forward Marco Reus is one of the most unlucky footballers in the world, but he may finally be able to put his latest injury nightmare behind him against SV Hamburg tomorrow.

After being out for over eight months with his most recent setback – a knee ligament tear in May’s German Cup final – Reus is in full training and has convinced the Dortmund medical staff that he is ready to return.

“We can hardly wait, he can hardly wait,” Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc said.

It comes at the perfect moment for Dortmund having let star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finally join Arsenal at the end of the Janu- ary transfer window.

Aubameyang’s replacement Michy Batshuayi had a superb debut when he scored twice in last Friday’s 3-2 win over Cologne but Dortmund coach Peter Stoeger still needs experience in the forward positions as his side fight for a Champions League spot.

Dortmund sit fourth in a crowded race for the top four. Just four points separate second from eighth. Hamburg are at the other end of the table, in an automatic relegation spot, but two battling draws in a row under new coach Bernd Hollerbach have given them hope.

He will have a familiar face with him in the dugout at Dortmund with Hamburg announcing this week that former HSV hero Rodolfo Cardoso had been brought into the coaching team.

The other big game of the weekend pits runaway leaders Bayern Munich against Champions League contenders Schalke at the Allianz Arena tomorrow.

Even with an 18-point lead, Bayern coach Jupp Heynckes has little scope to rotate against dangerous opponents, making his decision to play a full strength side in the 6-0 thrashing of Paderborn in the German Cup quarterfinals on Tuesday all the stranger.

Schalke boss Domenico Tedesco must decide whether to field midfielder Leon Goretzka, who has been troubled with injury and joins Bayern in July on a free transfer.

The Royal Blues have slipped to fifth and defeat at Bayern will boost the other top four challengers with second-placed Bayer Leverkusen the heavy favourites to beat inconsistent Hertha Berlin at home tomorrow. But they are set to be without injured captain Lars Bender.

RB Leipzig, in third, welcome in-form Augsburg today with visiting midfielder Rani Khedira poised to face his former side after being suspended for last weekend’s 3-0 win over Eintracht Frankfurt.

Bottom side Cologne go to Eintracht Frankfurt, faltering Hoffenheim entertain third-bottom Mainz and Hanover face Freiburg tomorrow.

The Sunday games see VfB Stuttgart take on Borussia Moenchengladbach and Werder Bremen host VfL Wolfsburg. – dpa