FIRST TEAM
03/01/2012

Checking in with Andreas Ibertsberger

Things are looking up for 1899 Hoffenheim's Austrian defender Andreas Ibertsberger. He has come through his rehabilitation and physiotherapy and the 29-year-old has snow returned to the training ground.

“Andi has made some excellent progress”, confirmed the club's team doctor Henning Ott. If all goes well, he should be nearing a first team return in the next few weeks. Andi himself was pleased his recovery was going well, but was keeping his feet firmly on the ground. “It's great to be able to train with a ball again, even if it's just with the fitness trainer”, he said.

This is the longest absence that he has suffered in his career to date. “I've been quite lucky in my career really. Other players have had far worse luck with injuries than me.” In March 2009 he suffered an ankle ligament injury and was ruled out for eight weeks. And in November 2011 he suffered the back injury that is currently keeping him out. He was expected to return to fitness in January, but his recovery has taken longer than expected.

Ibertsberger was treated by the renowned Munich-based medical expert Dr. Hanns Christian Harzmann, who is also the current team doctor for the Germany U21 team. “The week in Munich did him a lot of good. Now we can carry on with his recovery here in Zuzenhausen and gradually build up his strength”, says Ott.

We look forward to seeing Andi back in first team action as soon as possible.

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