“Good medicinal meat”: Röhl is even a squad option again

Back in team training: Freiburg’s Merlin Röhl, here in his last appearance against Bochum in mid-September.
IMAGO/Sportfoto Rudel

It was only the third matchday when Merlin Röhl paid dearly for what was essentially a very positive move in the game against Bochum. Freiburg’s dynamic offensive force injured its ankle as part of an energetic effort to win the ball back. The bitter diagnosis shortly afterwards: syndesmosis tear. A break of several months had to be expected; a return of the U-21 national player to the competition pitch after the turn of the year was not an unrealistic scenario.

But at the press conference on Thursday, Julian Schuster surprised everyone with the information that Röhl has already returned to team training. “It’s really gratifying how quickly he came back after this injury. He seems to have good healing skills,” said the Freiburg coach: “It was very quick in terms of time, we now have to look from day to day. He had it on Tuesday and Wednesday two intensive sessions, which he coped with well.”

Despite the two-month absence, Schuster did not rule out the possibility that Röhl might even be considered for the 20-man matchday squad again on Saturday in Dortmund: “There are many things to take into account as to whether it makes sense for him to be back at the weekend .”

Dinkci: All-clear after “twisted knee” and “tight race”

Eren Dinkci primarily benefited from Röhl’s injury. The summer signing came on as a substitute for him against Bochum and has since kept his place in the tenth position or as the hanging leader in the starting eleven. After his best performance to date in the SC jersey in the game at Union Berlin (0-0), Dinkci had to leave early a few days later as a late-nominated player for the Turkish national team due to a knee injury.

“He twisted his knee a bit during training with the Turkish national team. It was examined accordingly, pictures were taken and there was more or less the all-clear. We have to take it from day to day, he is still on his own.” , Schuster informed Dinkci’s current condition: “It’s a close race as to whether it works on the weekend. You can’t just consider one game, you always have to keep an eye on the next few weeks. We have one decent program ahead of us with the English one week in the DFB Cup.”

Atubolu is fit

If it’s not enough for Dinkci, Lucas Höler should be the first contender for the free spot on the offensive. Schuster also named Maximilian Philipp, striker Michael Gregoritsch and Florent Muslija as options.

In the goal, the SC coach doesn’t seem to have to worry about a replacement solution. Freiburg’s regular goalkeeper Noah Atubolu also had to leave the German U-21 national team early and without playing, but he has already overcome his back problems to the point where he was able to take part in team training again on Thursday. “Things are looking good at Atu,” said Schuster, who currently only has to do without long-term convalescent Daniel-Kofi Kyereh.