Tapsoba returns to training

Gerardo Seoane and his fellow coaches welcomed 13 outfield players and two goalkeepers to training pitch number one in windy yet dry conditions. However, not all of them completed the session. In view of the weekend without a game – the Werkself are only back in action on 17 October with a match against Bayern Munich – the focus was on controlling workloads and recovering from slight knocks.

Retsos and Fosu-Mensah work on their own

Seoane explained Panos Retsos had "twisted his knee slightly when shooting" in the pre-match training session ahead of the clash in Bielefeld. The Greece defender was on the bench in case of emergencies in the game at the SchücoArena. While no serious injury had been identified, the 23-year-old did not take part on Wednesday as a precaution. Seoane: "We can control the workloads more specifically in individual training. He should be back to normal next week."

And Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who suffered a torn cruciate at the start of March, is also currently working on his own on the training ground – on Wednesday with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin. On the current situation with the Dutch right-back, Seoane said: "He will train with the team again in small sections in two or three weeks – I'm thinking of passing drills, for example." Fosu-Mensah could return to action from November. "However, it's important to us to reintroduce the player gradually after such a long time on the sidelines."

Seoane teaches Tapsoba tactics

Edmond Tapsoba is closer to a possible comeback. The central defender suffered a torn ankle ligament in July. After weeks of rehab training, he rejoined his teammates on the pitch today for part of the session – without any physical contact. "We will work that way for the whole week so that he can regain confidence in his foot," explained Seoane, who took the Burkina Faso international under his wing in the second half of the training session.

Away from the drills with the other Werkself players, the Swiss coach took the number 12 to one side for individual instructions and to show him running and passing moves. "We're trying to show him the runs we expect for example when winning possession or in the box," said Seoane.

Tapsoba should be able to take part in further training with the team next week. The defender could be an option for the home game against Bayern Munich (17 October, kick-off: 15.30 CEST) but Seoane does not envisage him making a quick return to the starting line-up: "Of course, he's lacking physically and also with certain approaches to the game by the team."

Quartet from youth set-up

Four youth players took part in today's training session: Defender Sadik Fofana and the versatile offensive player Ingyom Jung joined in the session and Maximilian Neutgens (U19) and Luca Novodomsky (U17) were between the sticks. U19 head coach Sven Hübscher watched the promising performances from the youth players from the touchline.

The group training on Wednesday also comprise the first-team players Jonathan Tah, Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri, Karim Bellarabi, Paulinho, Robert Andrich, Daley Sinkgraven and Emrehan Gedikli.

happy birthday

While the Werkself players were at the BayArena or away with their national sides on Wednesday, the former Leverkusen player Nico Schneck celebrated his 34th birthday. After hanging up his boots, he started his training career in 2016 at Jahn Regensburg. A year later he was assistant coach to Heiko Herrlich at the Werkself. The Black and Red chapter ended in December 2018 and Schick is today assistant coach with the MSV Duisburg Women's team in the second division. Many happy returns on your birthday.