Huge responsibility on Kenyan winger’s shoulders as depleted Koln brace for Borussia Dortmund test

STARS ABROAD Huge responsibility on Kenyan winger’s shoulders as depleted Koln brace for Borussia Dortmund test

Mark Kinyanjui 06:55 - 19.01.2024

The responsibility of saving the club from relegation rests heavily on the Kenyan winger’s shoulders ahead of a tough Borussia Dortmund test.

Kenyan winger Linton Maina's Koln is bracing for a tough Bundesliga test against last season’s runners-up Borussia Dortmund on Saturday knowing that a win will put them out of the automatic relegation zones.

 Maina and his teammates have had a tough season so far. In 17 games, they have won only twice, drawn five times, and lost the other 10 of their games. They have collected just 11 points with a -18 goal difference, which puts them in 17th place.

Ahead of their game against Borussia Dortmund, they will need to be at their very best to get something out of the team placed fifth which is still very much in contention for Champions League places, as they sit fifth on 30 points, three behind fourth-placed RB Leipzig.

Koln will, however, not find it easy. Despite having picked up a point against Heidenheim on Saturday on new head-coach Timo Schultz's debut, they have suffered a injury blow, adding to a big list of absentees.

Luca Waldschmidt and prime goal-getter Davie Selke, have both been ruled out indefinitely.

Waldschmidt suffered a setback after incurring an injury in the squad's last training session before playing Heldenheim.

 On Sunday, it was confirmed that an MRI had revealed that the Wolfsburg loanee suffered a fractured fibula. 

Köln later revealed that Selke had also undergone an MRI on Sunday after complaining about pain in his foot. 

Further details on Selke were withheld before announcing he would be "unavailable until further notice."

A standing transfer ban further prevents Köln from signing any new players during the current January transfer window. 

Schultz has already had to make do without two of his more capable players following another injury set-back for Mark Uth and a fresh injury for Dejan Ljubicic.

Strikers Steffen Tigges, Sargis Adamyan, and the recently returned Florian Dietz have been unable to furnish much of note this season.

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