Plattenhardt a doubt for Hertha's clash with Bielefeld
Hertha's "reliable left-foot" remains questionable for Saturday's crucial relegation encounter against Arminia Bielefeld.
After being subbed off injured at the half in Sunday's win over Stuttgart, Hertha left-back Marvin Plattenhardt still hasn't been able to rejoin full team training. The set-piece expert became a talismanic figure in Hertha's quest to avoid the drop when he delivered three assists off dead-ball situations in an important win over Hoffenheim in round 27. Plattenhardt set up Davie Selke's opening goal on Sunday with a cross in from the left.
The likely alternatives for Plattenhardt are Maximilian Mittelstädt and Fredrik Andre Bjørkan. The former has turned in some impressive performances as of late while the latter relieved Plattenhardt on Sunday. Magath will get winger Marco Richter back from suspension on Saturday. The man who started in Richter's place, Vladimir Darida, must serve his own yellow accumulated ban.
Two critical midfield actors, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Lucas Tousart, were absent from team training on Wednesday. According to Magath, however, this related solely to work-load management. Both players trained individually and should be fit for Saturday. The status of Myziane Maolida, Linus Gechter, and leading goalscorer Stevan Jovetic remains unknown as of yet. The trio are healthy enough to train in any case
Hertha have a chance to officially clinch class preservation on Saturday with a win against away at Bielefeld and a Stuttgart loss. A win will assure Berlin's Charlottenburg side of at least the relegation playoff place.