Borussia Mönchengladbach dealt late defensive blow ahead of Stuttgart clash

Borussia Mönchengladbach will have to manage without another key player when they face VfB Stuttgart away from home in the Bundesliga on Friday night.

According to Bild, Kevin Diks is unavailable for personal reasons, with the club confirming to the newspaper that the centre-back’s absence is not injury-related.

Fortunately for Die Fohlen, the 30-year-old could return as early as Tuesday’s DFB-Pokal match against Karlsruher SC.

Diks' absence leaves Alexander Blessin’s already-depleted Gladbach squad with just one fit natural centre-back in the shape of Fabio Chiarodia, with Kō Itakura (muscle tear) and Jan Leszczynski (knee sprain) already sidelined.

If he wants to stick with a back three, Blessin could deploy Daiki Hashioka and Philipp Sander alongside Chiarodia in central defence. A switch to a back four is also conceivable.

Rooted to the bottom of the Bundesliga table, Gladbach have lost all six of their league games so far this season.