North Rhine-Westphalia: Professional contract for Fortuna's right-back Uchino

Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) - Second division soccer team Fortuna Düsseldorf has given right-back Takashi Uchino a professional contract. The 21-year-old joined the Düsseldorf U23 team from Alemannia Aachen in the summer and celebrated his debut in the second Bundesliga in March. The Japanese has made three appearances there so far, but has been missing since July due to a tear in the syndesmosis. "Taka' is now returning to the team after his injury and we hope that his running strength and mentality will be an important factor in the second half of the season," said Fortuna's sporting director Christian Weber not specified.