Schmidt provides update on recovering Leitsch
Speaking to Kicker magazine's Michael Ebert from the team's mini-camp in Mallorca, FSV Mainz 05 sporting director Martin Schmidt discussed the case of defender Maxim Leitsch for the first time.
For the first time since it was announced that 24-year-old defender Maxim Leitsch would have to take an exhaustion-induced indefinite break from football, FSV Mainz's sporting director provided an update on the Germany U21 international. Speaking to Michael Ebert of Germany's Kicker magazine from Mainz's mini-camp in Mallorca, Schmidt noted that Leitsch had returned to running training after a medical in Mainz last week.
Schmidt revealed that the former VfL Bochum academy man had been suffering from inexplicable early fatigue in matches despite the fact that there appeared to be no major physicals problems. According to Schmidt, Leitsch himself was "surprised" at these persistent reactions and that the club's medical staff ultimately attributed it to stress. A break from all action was thus ordered. At present, Schmidt said Leitsch is under "close observation" as his workload is ramped up.
As for rumors linking Leitsch with a return to Bochum, Schmidt made clear that such a move was not a topic at all. The FSV administrator did confirm that, in the event that the player wouldn't be able to get back up to full fitness in time for the resumption of the Bundesliga campaign, the club's front office was definitely in the market for another central defender. The Rheinhessen have been linked with four center-halves from other German football clubs.
"I hope that Leitsch will be back soon," Schmidt told Ebert, "We'll wait and see how things develop. Naturally, everyone hopes that we'll be able to see sufficient progress in his fitness levels before Christmas and schedule him for a full return [at the start of full camp] on January 2nd."