MSV Duisburg is currently completing a training camp in Thuringia. Two professionals had to leave early due to injury.

At the training camp in Thuringia, MSV Duisburg conceded their first defeat of the summer preparation on Wednesday. The Zebras lost 0:3 against second-division team Hannover 96.

While test player Timo Bornemann (most recently Borussia Dortmund II) played for the first time in the white and blue jersey, newcomer Pascal Köpke and Phillip König were unable to play due to injury.

And coach Torsten Ziegner will also have to do without the two attackers in the second and last test of the training camp – on Friday, MSV will face regional league team Lok Leipzig (5 p.m.). They have already left the camp in Heiligenstadt and returned to Duisburg, as the Revierklub announced.

Köpke, who has first league experience, was signed by Duisburg from 1. FC Nürnberg at the beginning of July. Now the 27-year-old is being slowed down by leg muscle problems. “He already felt something in the first training session of the week. Then it makes more sense for him to go through rehab in Duisburg,” Ziegner told club media.

MSV Duisburg: Personnel shortage in the centre of attack

The problem with Köpke’s fellow striker König is that he feels pain in his thigh during exertion despite unremarkable examination results, Ziegner continued.

The 23-year-old, who came from the second team of Holstein Kiel last summer, has already had an unhappy first year in Meiderich. Illness and injuries caused him to miss numerous third league games. In 18 appearances, König was only in the starting eleven three times. He is still waiting for his first goal for MSV.

And with Benjamin Girth, the third regular centre-forward in the squad is also currently injured. In the test match defeat against Hannover, Ziegner therefore had to play the attacking midfielder Alaa Bakir up front. Test player Bornemann could provide a remedy for the personnel shortage. He is at home in the attacking centre.