Japanese playmaker Hiroshi Kiyotake is back on the ball at Hannover after recovering from a foot injury - © © imago
Japanese playmaker Hiroshi Kiyotake is back on the ball at Hannover after recovering from a foot injury - © © imago

Kiyotake returns to Hannover training

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Hanover – There was a welcome sight for Hannover 96 fans on Tuesday when Japan international Hiroshi Kiyotake returned to training with the rest of the squad for the first time since sustaining an injury at the start of June.

Lacking fitness

The 25-year-old missed the club’s entire pre-season and first two Bundesliga games in 2015/16 after breaking bones in his right foot during a training session with the Japan national team.

Kiyotake subsequently had corrective surgery and has been undergoing rehabilitation ever since. The playmaker is still some way short of match fitness, however, and a date for a return to first team action has not been established.

Furthermore, Vladimir Rankovic and Mike-Steven Bähre took part in individual training programs with a view to returning to full team training soon. Leon Andreasen is currently absent through illness, but is expected back in the Hannover camp in the next few days.

Take a look at Kiyotake being put through his paces in the video below, courtesy of Hannover's official YouTube channel: