Streich confirms surgery for Lienhart

SC Freiburg trainer Christian Streich confirmed that defender Philipp Lienhart is scheduled for groin surgery tomorrow at his Thursday press conference. 

A roster that SC Freiburg trainer Christian Streich has already called “too thin” now finds itself further reduced. Streich confirmed that Austrian defender Philipp Lienhart shall undergo surgery tomorrow after persistent groin problems prevented the 27-year-old from featuring since match-day 14.

The Breisgau club had hoped to avoid surgery for its regular starter. Lienhart did feature in Streich’s match-day 17 bench squad, yet remained unused off the bench. Streich noted that, after attempting to test the Austrian in training, all parties involved decided on the current course-of-action.

“He was not stable under pressure,” Streich explained at his Thursday presser,  “We tried conservative treatment. That didn’t work. He will be operated on tomorrow.”

Lienhart – signed to a lucrative new contract extension this summer – started for Streich in all 14 initial league encounters. He went the full 90 minutes in all but one occasion. Overall, Lienhart made 21 appearances for Freiburg across all competitions this year. He scored one goal and registered one assist.

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