Top match injury updates: Haaland set to miss Saturday, Leipzig proceed without Adams and Nkunku
An absolute can't miss Bundesliga match is only a few hours away. As 5th place Dortmund and 2nd place Leipzig prepare for a crucial clash, it looks all but certain that Edin Terzic will have to make-do without his talismanic lead striker.
As revealed earlier in the week, Leipzig have a two missing actors as well.
As revealed earlier in the week, Leipzig have a two missing actors as well.
| Erling Haaland. |
Though it it isn't necessarily impossible that the Norwegian won't at least be given clearance at least to begin the match on the bench, it remains highly improbable. To force the 20-year-old into full match action without even basic training prep would risk further injury.
Haaland may be replaced by Thorgan Hazard in a pseudo-false-nine role, as was the case against Kiel in last Saturday's Pokal rout. With both Ansgar Knauff and Youssoufa Moukoko out, the only other practiced center-froward Terzic has at his disposal is Steffen Tigges.
Julian Nagelsmann's choice of striker, to no one's surprise, will be anyone's guess. Earlier in the week it was revealed, that both midfielder Tyler Adams and attacker Christopher Nkunku would have to sit the fixture out injured.
Nagelsmann hinted at a possible start for Hee-Chan Hwang at a Thursday presser. Emil Forsberg could be used as a false-nine again. Alexander Sørtloth or Yussuf Poulsen might begin deployed together or alone up top.