Lilian Brassier set to return to Eintracht Frankfurt’s starting lineup

Lilian Brassier is expected to return to Eintracht Frankfurt’s starting lineup when they host Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga on Sunday after recovering from a minor knee problem.

The 26-year-old centre-back missed Tuesday’s 3-1 DFB-Pokal victory over Hamburg as head coach Adi Hütter opted against risking his fitness ahead of the weekend encounter.

However, the French defender has recovered and is available for selection, with Hütter confirming his fitness during Friday’s press conference.

“Brassier is fit and is obviously an option for the weekend,” the Frankfurt coach stated.

Brassier had experienced discomfort following Frankfurt’s Bundesliga defeat to Borussia Dortmund, with Hütter previously revealing that the defender was operating at around 70 per cent of his capacity.

The decision to leave him out of the cup encounter was therefore taken as a precaution to ensure he would be ready for Sunday’s Bundesliga fixture.

The defender’s availability represents a boost for Frankfurt, particularly given his importance to the team’s defensive structure since arriving from Stade Rennes.

Brassier has started all six of Frankfurt’s Bundesliga matches this season, completing the full 90 minutes in each appearance before his recent setback.

His performances have quickly earned him the trust of Hütter, who was instrumental in bringing him to the club after previously following his development in French football.

With Brassier now fully fit, he is expected to reclaim his place in central defence for Sunday’s meeting with Hamburg.

His return will provide Frankfurt with greater defensive stability as they look to build on their midweek cup victory and secure another positive result against the same opponents.