Nagelsmann reveals Mukiele has a muscle tear
In a pre-match interview, Leipzig head-coach Julian Nagelsmann confirmed that defender Nordi Mukiele will be unavailable for today's Champions League fixture.
| Nordi Mukiele. | Photo: GEPA Pictures/Sven Sonntag |
Trainer Julian Nagelsmann could certainly do with some good news on the injury front. Fullback Lukas Klostermann went under the knife for major knee surgery and is out long-term. Defensive counterpart has struggled with his own injury woes. Midfielders Tyler Adams and Konrad Laimer are day-to-day with scrapes. Amadou Haidara has COVID.
Now it has been confirmed that Nodri Mukiele will be unavailable for the UCL clash. Nagelsmann revealed that the versatile right back suffered a muscle tear in Saturday's 2-1 win over Hertha.
The Leipzig trainer refused to rule Mukiele out for the weekend encounter, but did divulge that the Frenchmen will be subjected to an additional round of X-rays and imaging tests. Such procedures suggest he will be out much longer.
Nagelsmann's only other option at right-back now remains either Adams or the recently-acquired German international Benjamin Henrichs. Both players have hitherto been used to fill in at midfield while captain Marcel Sabitzer returns to full strength. Sabitzer has recently declared himself fully fit, meaning the talismanic skipper might be available to pair with Kevin Kampl in midfield.