Yannick Gerhardt, Jeffrey Bruma and Daniel Didavi (l-r.) in VfL Wolfsburg colours for the first time. - © © imago
Yannick Gerhardt, Jeffrey Bruma and Daniel Didavi (l-r.) in VfL Wolfsburg colours for the first time. - © © imago

New faces the highlight as Wolfsburg start pre-season training

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Over 1,000 fans turned up to watch revamped VfL Wolfsburg kick-start their preparations for the 2016/17 campaign on Monday.

The Wolves finished a disappointing eighth in the Bundesliga last season, but all that was forgotten as the club's army of admirers stole a glimpse of new signings Josip Brekalo, Jeffrey Bruma, Daniel Didavi and Yannick Gerhardt in action on the training pitches outside the Volkswagen Arena for the first time.

Fans lapped up the rudimentary passing drills, before the Wolfsburg camp split into two teams for a keenly contested practice match. As a token of their appreciation, the players signed autographs and posed for photos alongside their followers at the end of the session.

Big names still to return

Wolfsburg head coach Dieter Hecking still has a whole host of integral squad members to welcome back into the fold in the weeks ahead, including Julian Draxler, Andre Schürrle, Vieirinha (UEFA EURO 2016 duty), Ricardo Rodriguez (post-EURO 2016 holiday), Luiz Gustavo (personal leave), Maximilian Arnold (appendix surgery) and Bruno Henrique (shin).

Right-back Sebastian Jung, meanwhile, was able to take part in light training following a lengthy spell on the sidelines with a knee ligament injury.

The Wolves' first competitive outing of 2016/17 is away at FSV Frankfurt 1899 in the DFB Cup, before they begin their Bundesliga season at FC Augsburg on 27/28 August.