Mahdavikia returns to practice after back surgery recovery

Berlin, Aug 1, IRNA -- Iranian football international and Hamburger SV forward Mehdi Mahdavikia returned to team practice following his recovery from a complicated back surgery, the bi-weekly kicker sports magazine reported Thursday. Mahdavikia however is expected to sit out Hamburg's upcoming Bundesliga home opener against newly-promoted Hannover 96 on August 11. The former Pirouzi player had a disc operation in February and has not played for Hamburg since that time. The speedy striker whose contract runs until 2004, played his last match for Hamburg on February 16 during his team's 2-1 loss at Borussia Moenchengladbach.