Hamburg's injury woes

SBS - Just as Hamburg's season appeared to have finally picked up, the club have been dealt a double blow with injuries to Naohiro Takahara and Mehdi Mahdavikia. 

Trainer Kurt Jara was under pressure after a poor start to the season heralded just one point from the opening five games. 

However, with seven points from the last nine available Hamburg look to have regained the form that saw them claim fourth place last season and win the League Cup. 

Now the club have been dealt another setback losing two key players in the 2-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach at the weekend. 

Mahdavikia left the field heavily concussed after colliding with a Monchengladbach player. He spent the night in hospital and it is not known if he will be available for Hamburg's UEFA Cup return leg against Ukrainian outfit Dnipro on Wednesday October 15. 

Meanwhile, Takahara was struck in the eye by a flailing hand and the Japanese striker was told to rest for four days, ruling him out of Japan's upcoming international friendly against Tunisia.