Hanover's Ya Konan to sit out Hoffenheim visit

Hanover will be without Ivory Coast striker Didier Ya Konan for their first Bundesliga game of the season on Saturday as the African hot-shot works his way back to fitness after a pre-season injury. The 27-year-old, who scored 14 goals in 28 league games last season, tore a hamstring in pre-season and only returned to training with the Hanover squad a week ago. He will miss Hanover's home opener against Hoffenheim and coach Mirko Slomka says he is in no rush to hurry his star player back into the starting line-up. "Looking at the games coming up, we will refrain from using Didier against Hoffenheim," said Slomka, whose side finished fourth in the German league last season. "With his dynamism and eye for goal, he will certainly be very important for us this season. "We just need to have a little patience, he is improving from one training session to the next and will soon be 100 percent." Hanover face Sevilla in a Europa League qualifier at home on August 18 and face defending champions Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga on September 18.