Freiburg (dpa / lsw) – Roland Sallai has rarely been able to make sporting headlines in recent months. A serious eye injury, several changes of consultant and a thigh injury have slowed down the Hungarian soccer international from SC Freiburg since September. But now he’s fit again. He showed that on Tuesday in the 2-0 win in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup at SV Sandhausen. His coach Christian Streich was so impressed by the performance that Sallai could also be an option for the starting eleven in the Bundesliga duel with VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (3:30 p.m. / Sky).
“He did good things and showed that he has strength. He’s in the squad and maybe in the starting line-up,” said Streich two days before the Baden-Württemberg summit. Sallai was allowed to play from the start in Freiburg’s 1-0 win in the first leg in Stuttgart.
In Sandhausen, the 25-year-old winger was back on the pitch in a competitive match for the first time since suffering a serious eye injury last September. “It was about time, Roland had injuries and had to wait,” explained Coach Streich. “He kept improving as the game progressed, which is gratifying. We don’t just have three or four players on offense, we have a lot more.”
After the eye injury was over, Sallai dropped out again after the winter break. At the training camp in Spain he suffered from muscular problems in his thigh. Shortly before, he had caused a stir with several changes of consultant. According to media reports, he was hoping for a move to a top European club. However, this did not come about. Instead, he drew the displeasure of players’ agent Jörg Neblung. “Every consultant gets the player he deserves, but in the end nobody really deserves this player,” wrote Neblung on Twitter.
Sallai stayed in Breisgau and hopes that he can now pick up speed there again. When progressing in the cup, the Hungarian made the first step. “But there are some on the offensive that we are considering,” said Streich about the line-up against Stuttgart.
The coach himself will be missing against the Swabians because of a suspension. It was “not so wild, but unusual and a shame,” said Streich, who had already missed this season due to a corona infection. He is represented by his assistant Lars Voßler.
© dpa-infocom, dpa:230209-99-537841/3
