IRNA - TEHRAN, Iranian forward Mehdi Mahdavikia will temporarily return to Hamburg`s starting line-up for Saturday`s home match against Mainz, benefitting from teammate David Jarolim`s one-game suspension, the afternoon daily Hamburger Abendblatt said Wednesday.
HSV coach Thomas Doll nominated Mahdavikia for the face-off with Mainz as Jarolim has to sit out the game after having received his fifth yellow card during his team`s 3-0 loss at Bayern Munich last Friday.
"I have trained well, I feel good and I want to be in the starting formation," the speedy striker was quoted as saying. Mahdivikia viewed the upcoming match as a "great chance" to finally end his five-month long reserve player status.
The former Persepolis striker has repeatedly expressed deep frustration over his benching, but once again ruled out a transfer to another club. Earning 2 million euros a year in Hamburg, Mahdavikia`s current contract runs through 2007.