After the attack

Austria coach Wimmer: “Muki has to be honest!”

Coach Michael Wimmer and Muharem Huskovic.(Bild: Mario Urbantschitsch)

On Saturday, Austria have to play in Wolfsberg against the WAC for first place in the qualifying group - with Manfred Fischer and Frans Krätzig suspended, it's no wonder that coach Michael Wimmer is happy about every fit player. But he also says: "Muki has to be honest!"

It is therefore doubly bitter for him that Muharem Huskovic is questionable. The 21-year-old was attacked and knocked down by an unknown assailant on Monday evening, suffering a fractured nasal bone in the process and is therefore more than doubtful for Saturday.

The striker skipped morning training on Wednesday and trained in the afternoon without a special mask, which he will wear for the first time today. After that, coach Michael Wimmer hopes to have more clarity: "We have to see how Muki feels with the mask, how he gets air. Ultimately, we'll have to take his word for it as to whether he feels ready for action or not - Muki has to be honest with himself and with us.

Not exposing himself to any danger
One thing is certain for the coach with regard to Saturday's squad: "I don't want to and won't expose the player to any danger, he has to be physically and mentally ready to play. Especially in our current situation, everyone has to be one hundred percent ready to go, in this qualifying group a lot is about the fight, everyone has to be able to fully accept that".