Fin Bartels will miss Werder’s Saturday evening game against Mönchengladbach due to an ongoing adductor problem. Head coach Viktor Skripnik confirmed his absence in Thursday’s press conference: “Unfortunately, Finn won’t be available, we’ll have to wait and see whether he’ll feature in the games against Mainz and Wolfsburg.”
New-signing Florian Kainz could return to the squad to take Bartels’ place. Skripnik expected a response from the Austrian after he wasn’t called up to the Augsburg game and he received one. “Flo showed the right reaction in training. All the cards are in his hands,” said the coach, who in all probability will also be able to depend on Niklas Moisander and Serge Gnabry for the weekend’s game.
While the Finnish centre-back was able to train on Wednesday for the first time since his injury, last-minute transfer Gnabry had a brief rest this week. Skripnik revealed: “He trained individually. Serge needed a little break because of all the work he’s done in the last few weeks and due to a knee problem which he’s had since the Olympics.” The youngster was however back on the training pitch on Thursday.
Skripnik didn’t give away which 18 players he will choose for this weekend’s squad: “We currently have 20 out-field players and have to choose 16. Who that’ll be though we’ll see on Saturday at kick-off.”
