Stuttgart missing six centre backs ahead of trip to Holstein Kiel | OneFootball

Stuttgart will be without six central defenders ahead of their match against Holstein Kiel at the weekend.

Both Luca Jaquez and Jeff Chabot have been added to the long list of absentees as they have caught an infection.

Anrie Chase will also not be available as scan results have confirmed that he has a muscle strain injury in the adductor area after playing in a third-division reserves match against Arminia Bielefield last weekend. He will miss the coming weeks.

Finn Jeltsch will be unavailable due to suspension after picking up an accumulation of yellow cards.

Dan Axel-Zagadou has been out injured for several months due to a knee injury and Ameen Al-Dakhil is lacking match fitness as he continues his recovery from his muscle injury.

As well as these losses, Stuttgart will also be without midfielder Niko Nartey, winger Luca Raimund and forward El-Bilal for Saturday’s match.

Despite all of these absentees, manager Sebastain Hoeneß is determined to remain positive ahead of the weekend.

“We don’t have that many players to choose from, but we’ll find solutions,” he said.

“We have options, such as Leo Stergiou and Ramon Hendriks, who tend to play on either side of our defence but have played centrally at their former clubs.”

“Like every game in the Bundesliga, it’s a very challenging task. I want us to put in a good performance and perform as a cohesive unit, because Kiel also have plenty at stake. They’re doing really well as a promoted side, they won last week and will definitely want to upset us at home.”

Stuttgart continue to chase a spot in the top four as they are currently placed in ninth place with 36 points, which is five points behind fourth placed Mainz.

GGFN | Matthew Gritton