AMSTERDAM – Hannover 96 are hoping that recovering skipper Steve Cherundolo will be able to resume training by mid-August.



The veteran US right back, who retained his captaincy on Monday, is on the way back from minor arthroscopic knee surgery done late last month. The Reds have not put an official timetable on his training return, but their fingers are crossed it will come before long.



"We don't know for sure when he can be back," a Hannover 96 spokesman told MLSsoccer.com on Monday. "It could be two weeks, three weeks. Two weeks is what we expect."



Cherundolo was injured in a challenge on the first day of preseason training back in June, which caused a joint effusion, also known as water on the knee. The problem area was drained, with a follow-up operation to heal the surrounding tissue.



Without Cherundolo, Hannover will open the new Bundesliga season with an August 10 visit from derby rivals Wolfsburg.