Stuttgart Hit by Illness and Injuries Before Key Wolfsburg Match
VfB Stuttgart is scrambling to patch together a fit squad for their upcoming Bundesliga encounter with Wolfsburg, after news broke that striker Deniz Undav is sidelined by an infection. The timing couldn’t be worse. Heading into the Matchday 22 showdown, Stuttgart fans were already watching the injury list with growing anxiety. Now, Undav, who recently hasn’t managed to find top form, is the latest to fall ill, joining Danish midfielder Nikolas Nartey and fellow forward Jakob Bruun Larsen—both of whom are also battling illness and absent from training.
The situation puts extra strain on coach Sebastian Hoeness, who’s had to shuffle his lineup week after week. While there’s a glimmer of hope that Undav might make a quick recovery, the staff is waiting to see if he can bounce back in time, just as Nick Woltemade and Josha Vagnoman did. Those two missed out on the DFB Pokal quarter-final win over Augsburg but came off the bench as substitutes in the vital 2-1 league victory over Borussia Dortmund.
Hoeness Faces Selection Headaches as Absences Pile Up
Facing the constant churn of player availability, Hoeness’ leadership and adaptability are on full display. While he’d surely prefer to have a settled lineup, instead he’s having to mix and match as more players drop out with injuries or illness. The defense is looking thin as well. Ameen Al-Dakhil, who’s struggled with a thigh strain, is back in training but isn’t fully ready; as per comments given to Germany’s Kicker magazine, Hoeness insists Al-Dakhil needs a “series of training sessions” before he’s considered match-fit. Center-backs Dan-Axel Zagadou and promising talent Luca Raimund remain out, and summer signing El Bilal Toure is also unavailable.
The illness sweeping through the squad has clearly complicated things. In the past two weeks, Stuttgart’s bench has looked unpredictable game to game. For supporters, it’s an uneasy feeling not knowing which key players might be missing each match. Yet, if there’s a silver lining, it’s that players like Woltemade and Vagnoman have shown quick recoveries are possible—setting an optimistic tone for Undav’s and Nartey’s prospects.
Looking at the remaining available players, Stuttgart will have to rely on those who can step up at short notice, while hoping that those sidelined by the infection bug can return without setbacks. Memories of the recent sick-list drama are still fresh, and the dressing room atmosphere seems tense as the physio staff works overtime. With the race for European places intensifying every week, Stuttgart’s ability to adapt could shape their end-of-season story. This Wolfsburg game may end up saying a lot about their resilience.