Wolfsburg updates: Wimmer trains while Svanberg sits
VfL Wolfsburg head-coach Niko Kovac may have one of his preferred wingers back in time for a crucial weekend matchup with table toppers 1. FC Union Berlin.
Kovac's latest attempt to interject some attacking prowess up the right flank, meanwhile, is out with thigh problems.
VfL Wolfsburg trainer Niko Kovac has certainly missed the presence of attacking midfielder/right winger Patrick Wimmer during his team's slow start to the season. The 21-year-old Austrian international - a targeted acquisition ahead of the new campaign - has been struggling with the after-effects of a concussion for about a month and has not appeared for die Wölfe since matchday two.
Kovac's latest attempt to interject some attacking prowess up the right flank, meanwhile, is out with thigh problems.
In Wimmer's absence, Kovac has tried all manner of deployments on the right flank. Omar Marmoush, Felix Nmecha, Kevin Paredes, Jakub Kaminski, Ridle Baku, Josip Brekalo, Luca Wladschmidt and Maximilian Philipp have all occupied the space. This past weekend, Kovac made what was perceived as a desperate move by many in trying out central midfielder Mattias Svanberg on the right.
There was at long last some good news emanating from yesterday's training session. The local Wolfsberger Allgemeine Zeitung reported that, while Svanberg had to miss out on due to some issues with his thigh, Wimmer was at least back on the pitch. Kovac confirmed the news at his Wednesday presser, saying the Svnaberg needed to get a thigh injury checked out.
Wimmer, the coach noted, was still getting integrated. The player is donning prtective headgear as a measure against further injury.
"He is much better, but he is still about heading the ball," Kovac said, "That's, of course, normal. We'll decide to what extent he can be used at the end-of-the-week."
I am 🔙 with a new style 😎 #wimmerweiter #vflwolfsburg pic.twitter.com/awazbZVaBm
— Patrick Wimmer (@PatrickWimmer7) September 12, 2022