SV Werder Bremen are facing a significant shortage of players ahead of their upcoming double friendly against SC Paderborn. On Thursday, nine first-team players were absent from squad training, as confirmed by the club to the Deichstube outlet.
Which players are missing for Werder Bremen?
Alongside Romano Schmid, who only recently returned from extended World Cup leave, Niklas Stark, Felix Agu, Senne Lynen, Dariusz Stalmach, Skelly Alvero, Mats Heitmann, Mitchell Weiser and Keke Topp were also not on the pitch. Weiser and Topp are ruled out for the Paderborn friendlies. Both are still recovering from ACL injuries and working on their comebacks. Topp is expected to be sidelined until at least the end of the year following the injury he suffered in March. The current injury status is always documented on our injuries page.
What are the reasons for the absences?
The club pointed to targeted load management for some players. According to the information, this applies to Schmid, Niklas Stark and Felix Agu. Skelly Alvero was also managing his workload. Other players are nursing specific knocks: Mats Heitmann has a knee injury, Senne Lynen an abdominal muscle issue and Dariusz Stalmach a shoulder injury. They are, however, expected to return to training in the coming days.
How does Werder compare in the Bundesliga?
The current personnel situation hits Werder at a time when the team holds a solid mid-table position in the Bundesliga standings. After the first matchdays of the season, the club has already gathered some important points. The exact league position and further statistics can be viewed on our standings and stats pages. The Green-Whites have shown offensive potency this season but need to further stabilise their defence.
Who could feature against Paderborn?
Whether Werder can field a more complete squad for the Saturday friendlies (2 pm and 4 pm) in Paderborn remains open. An appearance still comes too early for Mitchell Weiser, although he recently managed to train partially with the team. The officials around coach Ole Werner must manage the available forces wisely, especially with an eye on the next competitive fixture. Werder Bremen's next Bundesliga match is scheduled for 13 September. You can find the complete season schedule on our fixtures overview.
