Borussia Dortmund left-back Nico Schulz partly tore is left tarsal ligament in Germany’s 4-2 loss against the Netherlands on Friday.
After Manuel Akanji returned from the Swiss national team on Thursday due to an ankle injury, the 26-year-old is the next defender to pick up an injury during the international break.
🚑 Injury Update: Nico Schulz returns from DFB team with ligament injuryhttps://t.co/jmSrm5G13x #bvb pic.twitter.com/bCT3SZz07X
— Yellowwallpod (@Yellowwallpod) September 7, 2019
Nine minutes into the second half, Dutch striker Memphis Depay slit into Schulz, whose ankle got awkwardly sprained under the forward’s leg. The German international, however, remained on the pitch after initially limping for the remaining 36 minutes.
Defence is thinning out
Schulz is likely to be ruled out against the upcoming high-profile matches at the Westfalenstadion against Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga and FC Barcelona in the Champions League.
A diagnosis for Akanji’s ankle injury is yet to become public. Though, Dortmund’s injury woes already remind of last season’s when the Black and Yellow’s title chances were severely hampered by an injury crisis at the back.
Achraf Hakimi or Marcel Schmelzer can fill Schulz’ position on the left while Dan-Axel Zagadou or Leondardo Balerdi could replace Akanji.
Witsel back in running training
Axel Witsel had to sit out Borussia Dortmund’s 3-1 loss away to Union Berlin due to adductor problems. The 30-year-old returned to running training on Wednesday, hopeful that he will get fit in time for Saturday’s important clash against Leverkusen.
„Wie fühlst du dich, @axelwitsel28?“
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) September 4, 2019
💂♂️: „Gut!“ 🤙 pic.twitter.com/Iwt9D9VifB
