Svensson reveals that Stach and Lee are doubts for weekend

FSV Mainz 05 trainer Bo Svensson revealed on Thursday that starters Anton Stach and Jae-Sung Lee were both doubts for the weekend clash against Hoffenheim.

FSV Mainz 05, fresh off their 1-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach last week, actually find themselves in 5th place in the Bundesliga table headed into matchday six of the young season. The Rheinhessen have won three of their away fixtures thus far this year, capturing victories at Gladbach, Bochum, and Augsburg.
In something of an interesting coincidence, Svensson’s Pfälzer can set a new club record in their trip to Sinsheim on Saturday. Should the team prevail over TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, Mainz will with earn four consecutive away wins. Recently sacked Chelsea trainer Thomas Tuchel led the club to the current record during the 2010/11 campaign.

Svensson does face some difficulties in preparing his selection for the so-far solid looking Kraichgauer. German youth international Anton Stach, who has been playing a more offensive role in the squad this year, started the first four fixtures, but could only feature in relief against the foals. The 23-year-old is suffering from hip problems.

The FSV gaffer compensated for Stach’s absence last week by moving striker Jonathan Burkardt back to pair with Jae-Sung Lee behind lead-striker Karim Onisiwo in a 3-4-2-1. Something like that this week won’t work as Lee himself likely cannot feature. The South Korean international – who has also figured prominently in four of the five league fixtures – has been suffering from swelling issues in his foot.

“The use of both players is a doubt,” Svensson revealed, adding that he had at least one replacement in mind with in the form of Luxembourg international Leandro Barreiro, “Leo is a very ambitious boy, but also a very mature one. If anyone serves as a fully professional player who can be relied upon, it’s Leandro Barreiro.”

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