FC St. Pauli

Eric Smith was forced to pull out of training on Wednesday after feeling pain in his thigh. A subsequent examination revealed a muscle problem, though no serious structural injury has occurred.

The 1-0 home win over Eintracht Braunschweig was yet another game Scott Banks was reduced to watching from the stands, having torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in the 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture back in September. The Scottish winger is working hard on his return, though, and can hardly wait to get back on the training ground with the rest of the squad.

FC St. Pauli started pre-season training on Friday afternoon after a break lasting 25 days. With the temperature hovering around the 35 degree mark, Timo Schultz and his coaching team laid on a varied session for the players that placed the focus on game-related exercises and work with the ball.