Freiburg hopes Simon Pouplin return

Freiburg hopes Simon Pouplin return

Freiburg hope to have their regular goalkeeper Simon Pouplin back in action for Saturday's clash with Bayer Leverkusen after he returned to full training this week.

The 24-year-old has been suffering from a shoulder injury for the last three weeks and his place has been taken by Manuel Salz for the first three competitive fixtures of the season.

However, coach Robin Dutt is optimistic his number one will be back on Saturday.

"He will be put through his paces and then we will decide if he can play," revealed Dutt, who is also without the injured Stefan Reisinger.

Leverkusen this week strengthened their squad by signing Lars Bender from 1860 Munich.

The 20-year-old ended a seven-year spell with the Lions to join Leverkusen 11 months earlier than originally planned, and he admitted it had been hard to say goodbye.

"Even though I am obviously looking forward to my new task, it is sad that it is really over now," he said.

"It is really hard to leave. I always felt I had their backing and support in developing me as a professional.

"1860 have permitted me to take the next step in my career and I am very thankful for that."

Bender will have to wait at least another week before taking that step as Leverkusen coach Jupp Heynckes has preferred to leave him out of his squad this weekend.

He will instead keep his faith in the team which defeated Hoffenheim 1-0 at the newly-refurbished BayArena last weekend, which means Theofanis Gekas and Toni Kroos will once again take their place on the bench.

Cedrick Makiadi is in line for his full debut for Freiburg after making two substitute appearances and he could figure in a more attack-minded team alongside Tommy Bechmann and Mohamadou Idrissou at the Dreisam Stadion.