Marco Reus' comeback does not seem to be too far away anymore. Manager Thomas Tuchel believes the star attacking player will be able to make a 'cold start' after the international break.

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"It is a pleasure to watch him training right now", raved Tuchel on Friday. "Marco is in top condition, and at a noticeably high level with regard to his game. We are hoping that it will stay that way." To bring him up to speed, and probably also to avoid a relapse of any kind, Reus often separates from the squad for the purpose of undertaking alternative exercises "which focus intensively on building up his cardiovascular fitness in contrast to the rest of the team", according to Tuchel, who added: "I do not think it will be long before he can play for us again." There is also good news about Marcel Schmelzer and Erik Durm, who have both trained with the team. Nuri Sahin, though, is absent due to a stomach infection.

Match fit and battle hardiness are two different things

Raphael Guerreiro suffered a contusion in the game against Lisbon and is "currently receiving treatment", said Tuchel. The Portuguese's participation is in doubt, and he would be unlikely to play a full 90 minutes in any case. What is true for Guerreiro is also applicable to Schürrle, of whom the manager said: "90 minutes would be too much for him now, 45 was pushing it a bit." He added, with regard to returning from injury in general: "We saw in that game that being match fit and being in possession of battle hardiness are two completely different things." (br)