Korkut commits to Kempf and Stark in central defense, says Jovetic is fit
Hertha BSC trainer Tayfun Korkut made clear at his Thursday presser that Niklas Stark and newcomer Marc Oliver Kempf will serve as his center back duo in Friday's encounter against VfL Bochum.
The team's leading goal-scorer, Stevan Jovetic, should also be fit and ready for action.
The team's leading goal-scorer, Stevan Jovetic, should also be fit and ready for action.
| Tayfun Korkut. |
"Kempf will start," Korkut told reporters, "That's why we brought him in."
The Hertha trainer later added that Niklas Stark would serve alongside his former Germany U21 teammate. The pair actually worked together in Stefan Kuntz's 2017 European U21 European Championship squad.
Insofar as other players were concerned, Korkut declared himself impressed with new arrival Dong-Jun Lee, whom the head-coach referred to as "very refreshing". The South Korean international definitely won't start, but Korkut hinted that there may be a place for the 25-year-old winger on the bench squad.
Korkut also didn't explicitly commit to a start for 32-year-old Stevan Jovetic, but said did express his confidence that the team's most effective striker and leading goalscorer "will be there and will play a great game."
The oft-injured Jovetic has been limited to just 11 appearances this season. There remains no question that Hertha are a much more dangerous team with the veteran Montenegrin--signed on a free this summer--in the starting XI.
"It felt like a new transfer to me," Korkut said of his returning attacker.