It’s just a friendly with a fourth division club, but it’s a special game for Rune Jarstein. 468 days after his last appearance for Hertha BSC, the former Norwegian national goalkeeper should be back between the posts for the Berlin Bundesliga team.
Coach Sandro Schwarz announced that Jarstein and number one Oliver Christensen will each play one half against regional league club SV Babelsberg 03 on Saturday (4:00 p.m.).
“I only know the history from hearsay, as it was last year, always had one or the other health problem. But, he’s with us in training, so to have an impression of having the goalkeeper jersey tomorrow, 45 minutes to play, then we are also smarter,” said Schwarz in the training camp in Kienbaum about Jarstein’s situation.
Long suffering
Jarstein was last in goal for Hertha on March 21, 2021 in the Bundesliga in a 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen. This was followed by a long period of suffering for the 37-year-old with a severe corona infection with heart muscle inflammation and a knee injury that required surgery.
At Hertha, Jarstein, who has been with the club for more than eight years, is currently a backup for the Dane Christensen (23), who after only two professional appearances for the Berliners in the relegation against Hamburger SV (0:1/2:0 ) was voted number one for the coming season.
Hertha’s goalkeeper quartet also includes young goalkeepers Robert Kwasigroch (18) and Tjark Ernst (19), who has been signed by VfL Bochum. Managing director Fredi Bobic recently said that no further purchases were planned in the goalkeeper position.
