BayernForum.com

22.02.2007

For the first time this year, Bayern's Säbener Strasse training ground took on its alter ego as a tourist attraction on Thursday morning, as a 1,000-strong crowd took advantage of spring temperatures and the Bavarian half-term holiday to observe the German champions' final public training session ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga meeting with VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena.

The die-hards with their noses pressed to the fence will have been delighted at the appearance of Valerien Ismael for the first time since fracturing two bones in his leg more than five months ago. The Frenchman came through the training session unscathed, but no date has been set for him to resume competitive action.

<b>Ismaël must rebuild confidence</b>

"I'm not going to hazard a guess," coach Ottmar Hitzfeld remarked after the session. The 31-year-old centre-half had "settled well", but he would need "time to get used to it again" following his long spell on the sidelines. The former Bremen stopper is expected to gain match practice with the reserves in the third division south over the next few weeks. "He needs to rebuild his confidence," Hitzfeld observed.

Ironically, the General could make good use of Valle's services at the present time. Just two days ahead of the Wolves clash, Daniel van Buyten is rated doubtful for the match. The Belgian was already suffering flu symptoms on Tuesday evening in Madrid, and sat out the session on Thursday.

<b>Salihamidzic and Lell standing by</b>

To compound the situation, Willy Sagnol and Martin Demichelis are definitely out of Saturday's match with suspension, leaving Hitzfeld to improvise. "We need solutions to one or two problems," the coach conceded. Owen Hargreaves also missed the Thursday workout, reporting for a regeneration session instead after taking a knock or two in Madrid, but the England man is not considered a doubt for the weekend.

All that was left for Hitzfeld was to continue working on Bayern's defensive stability with a revised back four. Hasan Salihamidzic could stand in for Sagnol, with Christian Lell first in line to deputise alongside Lucio should Van Buyten fail to recover. Youngster Mats Hummels, who signed professional forms in the autumn, is a potential alternative.