Werder Bremen make their way to Essen on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the League Cup semi final against Schalke 04 where they will stay at the Sheraton Hotel but with a leaner squad than expected. Mohamed Zidan, Patrick Owomoyela, Jelle van Damme and Daniel Jensen will all remain in Bremen unable to take part in Werders first pledge for silverware of the season. Zidan is the most recent injury, the Egyptian was forced to limp out of training in Bremen having jabbed his right heavily foot into the turf.
Mohamed Zidan will be left out to recouperate on Wednedday as will Daniel Jensen who had been suffering from muscle hardening problems in his buttox but the Dane has returned to training. Patrick Owomoyela and Jelle van Damme were only fit for some light jogging with rehab-man Stefan Wolters. "Jelle has a foot injury and needs to rest it but he'll be back to play Hansa Rostock on Saturday", explained headcoach Thomas Schaaf.
Aside from the injured quartet, the trainer will also do without Marco Stier, Francis Banecki, Florian Mohr and Kasper Jensen who will all play for the under 23 side against newly promoted third division club Kickers Emden.
The following 17 players have made the journey to Essen where they will train at 10am on Wednesday morning: Reinke, Wiese, Davala, Pasanen, Fahrenhorst, Andreasen, Schulz, Baumann, Vranjes, Lagerbloom, Frings, Borowski, Micoud, Hunt, Klose, Klasnic and Valdez.