Hamburg's Albert Grønbæk set for injury lay-off after muscle tear on international duty
Hamburg are set for a spell without top scorer this season, Albert Grønbæk, after the midfielder suffered a muscle tear while representing Denmark during the international break.
Grønbæk, who has two goals and two assists in five games across all competitions for HSV this campaign, was playing for his country against Norway in the UEFA Nations League on Thursday, coming on in the 82nd minute. However, he was forced off before the end of the game with his leg heavily bandaged.
Denmark's head coach, Brian Riemer, confirmed after the game that Grønbæk needed to leave the camp due to the issue. Now, following a MRI scan back in Hamburg, the club have announced that the 25-year-old has torn a muscle in his right thigh.
While there has been no update on how long he could be out for, he will not be available for the Denmark for the remainder of this international break and is unlikely to feature for his club initially once the Bundesliga returns.
This comes as a blow for Merlin Polzin and Co. given Grønbæk has been involved in four of the five goals Hamburg have scored this season. It had been a difficult start to the season for HSV as they lost their opening three games without scoring, but Grønbæk created both strikes as they picked up a much-needed victory over Cologne on Matchday 4. He also netted twice in the first round of the DFB Cup as Hamburg progressed.
As such, Polzin will now need to find an alternative for Grønbæk when his team to return to action with a trip to Hoffenheim on Matchday 5 of the Bundesliga season.
