It only seems logical - and fair, but whenever did that have anything to do with anything in football? - that Walter should get another chance to win promotion after successive third-place finishes. He has even recently signed a contract extension, but there is no doubt that when he was appointed in summer 2021, Walter was a gamble.

A former Bayern Munich reserve team coach, his only previous professional experience was a brief spell at Kiel and an even shorter tenure at Stuttgart. Yet it has proved an inspired choice, giving HSV stabilty on and off the pitch that they were never likely to have had with 11 different coaches in the 13 previous years.

Walter has stability in his squad too, notably Robert Glatzel, who finished second top scorer in the division last season with 19 goals, and who has struck 10 times in his first 14 league appearances this term. The former Cardiff City forward's supporting cast have been impressive too: ex-Borussia Mönchengladbach man Laszlo Benes has seven league goals already, one more than he managed in the whole of last season, while Bakary Jatta is just one strike shy of his 2022/23 tally.

Watch: Glatzel, Benes and Jatta all on target in 3-0 win over Hertha Berlin

Highlights

HSV and St. Pauli hoping to Get Back to the Bundesliga

Matchday 14 highlights