Werder boosted by duo

Frings and Mertesacker set to return

By Chris Ives   Last updated: 9th September 2008

Torsten Frings

Frings: Set to play in mask

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Werder Bremen are set to welcome back Torsten Frings and Per Mertesacker against Energie Cottbus this weekend.

Mertesacker, who has yet to play this season following a knee operation, resumed training on Monday and hopes to be fit to face Cottbus.

Frings will play with a face mask after breaking his nose during a PR appointment last week.

"The mask does its job and I don't feel handicapped in any way," Frings told the German press.

"I have to get used to the fact that I have something over my face which tickles, but I have the whole week to do that."

The news is a major boost to title-hopefuls Bremen who have stumbled out of the Bundesliga starting blocks, collecting just two points from their opening three matches.