News in brief: Newcomer trio train

All three of the Bayer 04 winter signings are now well and truly at Bayer 04. While Timothy Fosu-Mensah can already look back at two starts and a substitute appearance for the Werkself, Jeremie Frimpong made his debut for Leverkusen on Tuesday night in the DFB Cup game in Essen. We congratulate the 20-year-old Dutchman on his first game for the Werkself. Following his period of self-isolation, Demarai Gray joined his new teammates on Thursday and completed his first training session in Leverkusen.

Gray and Frimpong went in front of the cameras after the training session. Official photos were taken in both the black home and the red away kits – for autograph cards, for bayer04.de, graphics etc. Here's a little taster:

Arias back in Leverkusen

Santiago Arias is back in Leverkusen. The Colombian, who arrived on loan from Atlético Madrid in the summer, returned to Germany at the start of the week and has been working on his comeback in the 'Werkstatt' at the BayArena since Wednesday. After the bad fractured fibula he suffered in the international against Venezuela in October, Arias underwent an operation in Madrid and started his rehab there. Two screws had to be removed from his leg recently and now the 29-year-old can fully focus on a hopefully rapid return to the pitch.

Schreier is 62

A former Bayer 04 player with legend status celebrates his 62nd birthday on this Thursday: many happy returns to Christian Schreier. Stay fit and healthy. The striker played for the Werkself from 1984 to 1991 and he was one of the heroes from the UEFA Cup triumph in 1988.