Maccabi Haifa Players Return to Training Ahead of Hapoel Jerusalem Match

Maccabi Haifa is set to resume preparations for their upcoming match against Hapoel Jerusalem on Thursday, with players returning from international duty. Coach Barak Bakhar will have a nearly full squad available.

Several players who represented various national teams have rejoined the club. Goalkeeper Omri Glazer, who recovered from an illness, is expected to be available despite not playing for Israel. Eitan Azulai played in two recent qualifying matches for Israel, while Yarin Levi came on as a substitute in others. Players from the youth national team also saw significant playing time, with Noam Steifman playing 180 minutes, Iyad Hallaili starting two games, and Navot Ratner appearing as a substitute. Steifman is a potential starter against Hapoel Jerusalem due to an injury to another player.

Among the foreign players, Kangi Hura of Curaçao is in excellent form after scoring twice against Costa Rica and Nicaragua and is likely to start. Ali Muhammad played in all three of Niger's recent matches, completing 90 minutes in one and being substituted at halftime in another. The team will also celebrate Muhammad's 31st birthday.

Additionally, Sean Goldberg is expected to return to training after recovering from an illness, as is Nigel Lonwijk, who missed a previous preparation game due to a muscle issue. However, a player referred to as Tsunami is doubtful for the next game. The club expressed optimism about having a near-complete roster for the upcoming training sessions, stating that the returning players provide enough time to integrate everyone before the match.