Nuremberg (dpa/lby) - With three new faces, 1. FC Nuremberg has started preparing for the second half of the second Bundesliga. Under the direction of coach Markus Weinzierl, the team completed their first training session of the long World Cup break on Monday at Valznerweiher. The three newcomers Peter Vindahl Jensen (goal), Benjamin Goller and Florian Flick (both wingers) were there on the partly snow-covered pitch.
The Danish goalkeeper from the Dutch first division club AZ Alkmaar is to replace the injured regular goalkeeper Christian Mathenia (shoulder) until the end of the season. Flick (Schalke), who is also on loan, and Goller (Bremen), who is on permanent duty, can fill the gaps on the flanks left by injuries to Tim Handwerker and Erik Wekesser (both cruciate ligament).
After a sobering first half of the season, Nuremberg are eleventh in the winter break. With two points, the lead over the relegation place is dangerously small. In order to initiate the trend reversal, Weinzierl ordered two training sessions per day for this Tuesday and Wednesday.
Before the start of the second half of the season on January 29 against FC St. Pauli, the main goal is to massively increase the risk of scoring. With 16 goals in the first 17 games, Nuremberg has the weakest attack in the league.
On Friday, the "Club" contests its first winter test at TSV 1860 Munich. Another showdown against Erzgebirge Aue follows before the Franconians travel to the training camp in Belek on January 8th. There the team will play a final test match against Schalke 04.
