1. FC Köln confirm major injury for central defender Joël Schmied | OneFootball

Already without former captain Tim Hübers for the long term, newly promoted Bundesliga outfit 1. FC Köln have now also lost central defensive stalwart Joël Schmied. Germany’s cathedral city club confirmed that a Sunday MRI revealed a muscle tear that will sideline the Schmied for several weeks. Schmied has played in all 11 of Köln’s league fixtures, starting on nine occasions. 

Schmied is now the fourth centre-back to be sidelined for die Geißböcke this season. Hübers and Luca Kilian may not feature at all for the club during the current campaign. Summer acquisition Rav van den Berg has been troubled by a shoulder injury and not featured at all since matchday three. 

It does nevertheless appear as if Köln head coach Lukas Kwasniok can start calling on Van den Berg on a regular basis again. The former Middlesborough man recently featured for the Dutch U21s and is back training with his German club on a semi-regular basis. 

Former Germany U21 captain Eric Martel – a defensive midfielder by trade – has also done well filling in on the back-line recently. Veteran Dominique Heintz and another summer acquisition who has seen little playing time, Vallencia loanee Cenk Özkacar, can also help out.

GGFN | Peter Weis