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12.07.2018Bayer 04

Trio set to return to full training

Holidays are now over for Jonathan Tah, Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic too. A week after the official start of pre-season training at Bayer 04, the trio started preparing for the new campaign on Thursday morning and tomorrow they will join the first team squad on the training ground. Due to their international duties at the end of the season the three players were given an additional week's leave by coach Heiko Herrlich.
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"The holidays were long enough to recover mentally and physically. I'm looking forward to getting started again," said Baumgartlinger ahead of numerous physical examinations (e.g. blood, eyes) plus balance and mobility tests. Tah and Dragovic, who returns to the Werkself after the end of his loan spell at Leicester City, followed the instructions of the medics, physios, coaches and sport scientists  at the Werkstatt. Above all, at the concluding spiroergometry test, performance measurements on the treadmill, the Werkself trio gave their all, which is why Baumgartlinger talked about an "intensive start." After four hours of tests the trio were able to shower. "Nobody really likes these checks and performance tests but they are obviously important. And now we've done it," was Tah's assessment of proceedings.

The three returnees will train with the rest of the squad for the first this summer on Friday (16.00 CET, live on bayer04.de) before Herrlich's players embark on three training sessions on Saturday (10.30 and 16.00 CET) and Sunday (10.30 CET). "The break was longer than normal for us due to the World Cup – now I can hardly wait to play football again, " said Tah.

The first pre-season friendly for the Black and Reds is next Wednesday (18.00 CET) against SV Roßbach/Verscheid.

 

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