Like he's Never Been Away
Munich - He may not have been the most high-profile returnee to the Bundesliga this summer, but Hannover 96's Szabolcs Huszti has left an indelible mark since returning to the German top-flight after a three-year absence.
'Season has begun'
Huszti made 86 appearances and scored 18 goals for Hannover 96 between 2006 and 2009, before joining Russian side Zenit St. Petersburg. After a successful spell there, Hannover came calling for the versatile winger again this summer and promptly took him back to the AWD-Arena. Since then, he has helped the Reds to six wins in seven games, during which time Mirko Slomka's side have netted an incredible 27 goals.
It was in the most recent of those, however, a 4-0 hammering of local rivals VfL Wolfsburg on Matchday 2 in the Bundesliga, that he showed exactly why the Lower Saxon club were so keen to take him back.
The tricky winger tore the Wolves' defence apart and set up all four goals for his team, joining such players as Mesut Özil and Thomas Häßler to have achieved the feat. "Today was my first real Bundesliga game since my return, and it feels like the season has now started properly for me", said an understandably confident Huszti after Sunday's game.
Back to his best
Martin Kind, the Hannover 96 club president, has implemented a strict management programme since taking charge of the club, but re-signing 29-year-old Huszti to a three-year deal was an investment he was happy to make. "Szabi is developing more and more into the player we knew here in Hanover", he said gleefully. "He was involved in all four of our goals today and the best is still yet to come from him."
Defender Karim Haggui was one of the benficiaries of Huszti's superb deliveries and could only echo Kind's sentiments. "He's just an outstanding player and I'm delighted he's back at Hannover", said the 28-year-old.
Sense of Humour
As for the man himself, he reflected on his performance with a refreshingly modest tone. "We got the three points, but that's all. Now we have to keep on working hard. Of course I'm happy, but the team is the most important thing." The 29-year-old also joked, "I hope I'm in the matchday squad for the next game. I scored once in a game for Zenit and then suddenly I was dropped for the next match!"
Huszti now has the international break to continue his hard work. After four assists in the Reds' first league win at Wolfsburg for seven years, the Hungarian international might well be forgiven for expecting to be in the starting-line up against SV Werder Bremen on Matchday 3.
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