Elversberg will be without Francis Onyeka for Saturday’s Bundesliga trip to Union Berlin, while Noel Futkeu and Maurice Krattenmacher are in contention for their first starts for the club.
- Onyeka, 19, returned early from the Germany Under-21 camp after sustaining a foot ligament injury.
- He will miss the 15:30 kick-off at the Alte Försterei.
- Coach Vincent Wagner expects the attacking player to be considered again next week or the week after, depending on his recovery.
- David Mokwa is a doubt because of Achilles tendon trouble.
- Futkeu could replace Mokwa and make his first Elversberg start.
- Krattenmacher is also pushing for a first start. The 21-year-old has scored three goals as a substitute and is Elversberg’s leading scorer.
- Cole Campbell only returned from international duty with the United States on Wednesday, making Krattenmacher a possible replacement.
- Elversberg drew 0-0 at Schalke before the international break, with Onyeka used from the bench, to move onto seven points.
What it changes in the Bundesliga week
Wagner could make two changes from the side that drew the promoted-club meeting at Schalke.
Elversberg travel to Berlin with six more points than Union, who have one point and sit second from bottom. Wagner rejected any suggestion that his side should be viewed as favourites.
“It is the fourth matchday. It is good that we have a few points more than them,” Wagner said. “It will still take some time before we go into a Bundesliga game as favourites. But we are working on it.”
