Hertha eye Hadji

Hertha Berlin have given Moroccan international midfielder Mustapha Hadji a trial with a view to a permanent move during the Bundesliga winter break.

Hadji has been frozen out at Aston Villa since the appointment of David O’Leary as manager and would be available on a free-transfer when the window reopens in January.

With the German outfit struggling to fill their right-sided midfield berth, trainer Huub Stevens has offered Hadji a lifeline by giving him a two-day trial with the capital side.

Nevertheless, Stevens insists he won’t be rushed into a decision about signing the 32-year-old, saying: “You can’t make such a decision in just two days. I’ll continue to observe him.”