After six long weeks on the sidelines, German-Ghanaian attacker Justin Diehl made a lively return to action, inspiring VfB Stuttgart U-21 to a confident 3-1 win over TSG Hoffenheim II.

The talented winger, who had been recovering from a muscle injury, wasted no time reminding fans of his quality. From the first whistle, Diehl was electric—testing the Hoffenheim goalkeeper with sharp efforts and delivering a precise corner that led to Dan-Axel Zagadou’s opening goal.

His comeback appearance was part of a carefully managed plan, as he was substituted after about 30 minutes to ensure a gradual return to full fitness. The game also saw Leonidas Stergiou and Zagadou make their own returns from injury, with the latter capping his comeback with a commanding header to double Stuttgart’s lead.

For Diehl, the match marked more than just minutes on the pitch—it was a statement of intent. Once touted as a future first-team regular under coach Sebastian Hoeneß, the 19-year-old’s return rekindles hopes of breaking into Stuttgart’s senior setup in the coming weeks.