Overview
- Hamburger SV is arranging a friendly in mid‑November to bring Mario Vuskovic back into competitive action one week earlier than previously expected.
- Croatian outlet 24sata and local reporting say discussions are under way with Hajduk Split to make the opponent Vuskovic’s former club, a move that would give the game emotional significance.
- The exact venue is not yet final: HSV and Hajduk have considered Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion and Hajduk’s Poljud stadium, with capacity and logistics shaping the debate.
- Vuskovic has been training with HSV since mid‑September after serving a four‑year doping suspension and will be eligible to play in mid‑November, which makes the test match timing possible.
- HSV has signalled the plan publicly with a social‑media postcard video and coach Merlin Polzin has praised Vuskovic’s development, while the club says the friendly would provide needed match practice ahead of his Bundesliga return.