AFC - TEHRAN, AFC Player of The Year for 2003 Mehdi Mahdavikia will make a return to the starting line-up of Hamburg for Saturday’s Bundesliga match against Mainz after teammate David Jarolim was hit with a one-match suspension.

For Mahdavikia, the start represents a good opportunity to impress coach Thomas Doll who has made him a bit part player in the team for this season. “I have trained well, I feel good and I want to be in the starting line up,� he said on Hamburger Abendblatt Daily.

Despite expressing his frustration over being given a place on the bench, Mahdavikia is not looking for a transfer to another club. His contract runs until 2007.

The current scenario is certainly different compared to the 2002 and also 2003 season when he was one of the top players in the Bundesliga which culminated in the award for the best Asian player by AFC.