Germany: Bundesliga
FT
1 - 1
(1 - 0)
Hertha BSC
Mainz 05
J. Ngankam (18)
L. Ajorque (57)
By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

Svensson provides updates on recovering Onisiwo and ailing Ingvartsen

At his Thursday press conference, FSV Mainz 05 trainer Bo Svensson said that in-form Austrian attacker Karim Onisiwo would most likely be back in the matchday squad against Hertha this weekend.

Whether or not the team's leader in scorer points will start or even used remains to be seen. Onisiwo is scheduled to return to team training today.

Svensson also revealed Onisiwo's replacement Marcus Ingvartsen has been slowed down by a cold this week.
Karim Onisiwo.
Karim Onisiwo.Photo: Harpagornis, CC BY-SA 4.0
After it was stated Austrian would return from knee issues last week against Hoffenheim, Karim Onisiwo remained absent from FSV trainer Bo Svensson's matchday squad on Saturday. Speaking at his latest presser, Svensson explained that the 30-year-old had completed a solid training week and should definitely factor into his plans this weekend against Hertha.

"We'll see how he copes. Karim is making a good impression so far," Svensson said of his squad's leading amasser of scorer points, "After a few weeks without team training, it's unlikely that he'll be able to play through. On the other hand, he's a phenomenon, a special type and character. We'll be happy if he available again and see how much he can help us."

Danish forward Marcus Ingvartsen has been filling in for Onisiwo in the starting XI for the past two weeks. In the process, the 27-year-old has become the team's leading goalscorer after netting a tally on the matchday 22 victory over Gladbach. Svensson revealed that Ingvarsten has been dealing with a training deficit due to a cold incurred this week. This could lend Onisiwo a start.

Svensson even indicated that neither player would start, given that "one has to be at 100 percent to help the team." Candidates to start behind lead-striker Ludovic Ajorque and alongside buttressing attacker Jae-Sung Lee include Anton Stach, Aymen Barkok, and Delano Burgzorg.

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