Hamburg hand Terem Moffi fitness concern ahead of Hoffenheim clash

Hamburg head coach Merlin Polzin has revealed that Terem Moffi remains a doubt for the club’s Bundesliga meeting with TSG Hoffenheim as the Nigerian striker continues to recover from a knee problem.

Moffi picked up the issue during Hamburg’s previous league fixture against FC Cologne and was unable to continue after the interval, with Yussuf Poulsen introduced in his place.

The 27-year-old’s condition is now being closely monitored by Hamburg’s medical and coaching staff, with Polzin making it clear that the club will not take unnecessary risks with the forward.

The Hamburg boss admitted that Moffi’s knee had reacted more than initially expected, meaning the club will need more time to determine whether he will be available for the Hoffenheim encounter.

“We need to get to know his (Moffi’s) knee a little better through our work together. The knee reacted a bit more than I initially thought. Now we have to wait and see what happens this week,” Polzin told Kicker.

Hamburg continue to monitor Moffi

Polzin’s comments suggest Hamburg are adopting a cautious approach as they assess Moffi’s recovery throughout the week.

Rather than setting a specific return date, the coach wants to see how the striker responds to training before making a final decision on his involvement against Hoffenheim.

That could leave Hamburg facing an attacking dilemma if Moffi fails to recover in time, particularly given the importance of having a recognised striker available for their next Bundesliga assignment.

Moffi joined Hamburg on a season-long loan from OGC Nice as the club sought to strengthen its attacking options.

However, the Nigeria international is still waiting for his first Bundesliga goal after making four appearances since arriving in Germany.

His latest outing ended prematurely against Cologne, with Poulsen taking over his role after half-time.

Moffi yet to find Bundesliga breakthrough

Moffi’s early spell at Hamburg has therefore been interrupted by the knee problem just as he looks to establish himself in the Bundesliga.

The striker will now hope his recovery progresses sufficiently during the week to give him a chance of returning to the squad against Hoffenheim.

For Hamburg, however, Polzin’s comments indicate that Moffi’s availability will depend entirely on his response to rehabilitation and training rather than any desire to accelerate his comeback.

The club are expected to continue assessing the forward before deciding whether he can feature in the Bundesliga clash.