By Peter Weis@PeterVicey

"Physical and mental exhaustion" sideline Mainz's Leitsch indefinitely

Details are scant at this juncture, but FSV Mainz 05 have announced that Maxim Leitsch will be taking a break from football until further notice. 
Despite being passed fit for this past weekend's fixture against Leipzig, Germany U21 international Maxim Leitsch did not make an appearance in head-coach Bo Svensson's starting XI. On Wednesday, the Rheinhessen addressed this absence by stating that the 24-year-old is suffering from "physical and mental exhaustion". He will only partake in "light training" until further notice.

The statement on Mainz's club website didn't offer many details on, but did note that the issues may be stemming from a possible infection and that further tests would be conducted. Leitsch joined the Pfälzer from VfL Bochum this summer as a high-profile and expensive acquisition. He started the initial seven 2022/23 Bundesliga games before these issues began.

Frenchman Anthony Caci has taken Leitsch's place in Svensson's back-three.

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