Hamburger SV welcome back three key players from injury ahead of their away match at SC Paderborn, but face potential defensive reshuffles. Manager Merlin Polzin provided a squad update at a press conference on Thursday, confirming the availability of Patson Daka, Albert Sambi Lokonga and Bakery Jatta.

Daka returns from a thigh muscle tear that sidelined him for around four weeks and the last two Bundesliga games. Lokonga missed only the 1-0 home win over VfB Stuttgart due to muscular issues and is in contention, though his starting role is open. Jatta has overcome adductor problems that kept him out of the last two fixtures.

The greater concerns lie in defence. Jordan Torunarigha felt slight discomfort at the start of training on Thursday and was not loaded further. "Jordan felt something at the beginning today and we said it would be unnecessary to take a risk today," Polzin stated. A decision on his involvement against Paderborn will follow Friday's final session. The same applies to Nicolas Capaldo, who reported issues on Wednesday and missed Thursday's training entirely. Capaldo had played every minute of every competitive game so far this season. If the Argentine is unavailable, Torunarigha, an unused substitute for the last two matches, is likely to step into the starting line-up.

Polzin emphasised that the trio returning "took part in training a lot or partly completely and are therefore available again for the weekend". For Bakery Jatta, a role as an impact substitute is initially planned. The return of the attacking players is timely for HSV, who sit ninth in the Bundesliga table with nine points and secured a 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart last weekend thanks to a late Miro Muheim goal. That victory marked a fourth consecutive win after the team suffered three defeats to start the campaign. The team has played a total of 360 minutes across these four wins, conceding only two goals, a clear sign of improved defensive work. The away fixture against 16th-placed Paderborn on Saturday offers a chance to extend the positive run and consolidate a place in the mid-table. Paderborn have taken just one point from their last five games, making them the team with the current worst form in the league.

First reported at absolutfussball.com