Bargfrede passed his stress test and was the only of the trio who was able to return to team training in the afternoon. The 22-year-old completed the session without pain thanks to a specially-prepared shoe which protected the open spot at his operated heal. "It feels really good. Everything was okay," said the Werder midfielder.
Things were not so positive for Borowski, whose status for Friday night's game is questionable just like Claudio Pizarro and Per Mertesacker. Pizarro and Borowski spent the afternoon in the weight room or at rehab, working on their comebacks. "I will have another test Thursday morning and will see if it's okay," said ‘Piza'. "The guys in the changing room are already asking: ‘Piza', when are you going to be fit again?"
Schaaf said Mertesacker is doing "better than yesterday" as the defender is dealing with a cold. "You have to have patience and wait for Thursday. But the chances are good," said the coach. But things will be much clearer Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m. when Schaaf will call his team to the final training.