Confirmed: Piatek done for the year, Dardai hints at use of Ngankam and Michelbrink
Hertha Berlin quickly confirmed on Thursday that Polish striker Krzysztof Piatek's ankle injury is indeed a serious fracture.
Given the severity of the fissure, the 25-year-old's availability for the Euros can be considered questionable.
Given the severity of the fissure, the 25-year-old's availability for the Euros can be considered questionable.
| Krzystof Piatek. | Photo: Hertha BSC/citypress |
The official diagnosis came at noon today. Piatek is done for the season, joining Jhon Cordoba, Dodi Lukebakio, and (very likely) Matheus Cunha on the list of players that will be unavailable for the squad's next fixture against Köln on Saturday.
At his Thursday presser, Dardai suggested that the game-winning goal-scorer in the Schalke match, Jessic Ngankam, might serve as the bridge solution in the final days of the relegation fight.
Also without Vladimir Dardia (yellow accumulator suspension) and Maximilian Mittelstädt (concussion), the club has called up 19-year-old attacking midfielder Jonas Michelbrink from the youth academy.
Dardai declared himself impressed with Michelbrink's effort in recent training sessions and had kind words for his 15 minutes of relief in the Schalke match.
ℹ Saisonaus für @pjona9official. Unser Stürmer hat sich bei #S04BSC eine Fraktur im Sprunggelenk zugezogen und wird uns in den verbleibenden Partien nicht mehr zur Verfügung stehen. Das ergab eine Untersuchung am Donnerstagmorgen. Gute Besserung, Kris! #GemeinsamHertha #HaHoHe pic.twitter.com/yLgy6Ycxqd
— Hertha BSC (@HerthaBSC) May 13, 2021