FC KÖLN NEWS

Kristian Pedersen - Starting against Slovacko Pedersen (ankle) is in the starting XI for Friday's clash with Slovacko.

Impact Pedersen was a doubt for the match but appeared in the starting XI, alleviating fears that his ankle injury could be serious. Pedersen has been largely a rotational option, though with a hectic November schedule his availability as depth could be crucial for Koln.

OCTOBER 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kristian Pedersen - Dealing with ankle injury Pedersen is doubtful for Thursday's Europa Conference League clash against FC Slovacko due to an ankle issue, manager Steffen Baumgart announced Wednesday.

Impact Pedersen has apparently been dealing with ankle problems for "a while" and they flared up this week making him a doubt against Slovacko. He has featured just three times in the Bundesliga this season, so his potential absence wouldn't affect the starting lineup much.

OCTOBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jonas Hector - Doubtful for Conference League game Hector (undisclosed) is unlikely to be available for selection in Thursday's Europa Conference League clash against FC Slovacko, manager Steffen Baumgart announced Wednesday.

Impact Hector picked up an injury in last week's defeat to Mainz and he is not expected to play on Thursday. He has started in all 11 of Koln's Bundesliga matches this season, but he will now be questionable for Sunday's Hoffenheim match.

OCTOBER 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Chabot - Likely out until World Cup break Chabot is not expected to return until after the World Cup break, manager Steffen Baumgart told Geissblog.

Impact Chabot and Mathias Olesen both returned to training but neither are expected to return from their long-term absences until after the Winter break. In reality it's possible they could push for a return in the final match but the club seems set on taking the safe approach and giving them two extra months to heal.

OCTOBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Trains with teammates Thielmann (illness) participated in Tuesday's training session with his teammates ahead of Sunday's match against Hoffenheim.

Impact Thielmann has missed all of October but will have another chance to return if he trains well all week. When fit, Thielmann started five times in seven games and will add needed depth on the right flank.

OCTOBER 25, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Training individually Thielmann (illness/fitness) trained individually Monday, and is expected to return against Hoffenheim on Sunday.

Impact Thielmann returned to the pitch for training Monday after multiple weeks sidelined with illness and issues recovering fitness after the illness. The midfielder is an important option on the right side for a Koln side struggling to keep a consistent starting XI together.

OCTOBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Chabot - Participates in training Chabot (ankle) participated in parts of Monday's training session.

Impact Chabot is close to returning after nearly two months out due to injury. He started in both of his appearances prior to his absence and will add further depth to the defense alongside Mathias Olesen, who's also returning from an ankle injury.

OCTOBER 24, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Allows five goals to Mainz Schwabe allowed five goals while making two saves during Friday's 5-0 loss to Mainz.

Impact Schwabe conceded three goals in the first half and two in the second as Koln dropped all three points on Friday. The keeper has now allowed 22 goals in 11 league starts while his two saves upped his season total to 26.

OCTOBER 22, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Kilian - Sent off Friday Kilian was sent off during Friday's clash with Mainz for two yellow cards in the opening 30 minutes.

Impact Kilian was shown a second yellow card inside 30 minutes during Friday's match and was sent off. This is from bad to worse for Koln as they continue to struggle with injuries in central defense and are now missing a starting option in Kilian. Kristian Pedersen could be one potential option to slot into the starting XI, though it's possible Koln are forced into a change of formation. Kilian will miss a Sunday clash with Hoffenheim before returning for a trip to Freiburg.

OCTOBER 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Dealing with illness Thielmann (illness) will miss Friday's trip to Mainz as he continues to contend with an illness, according to manager Steffen Baumgart.

Impact Thielmann will miss a fourth consecutive contest and it's uncertain when he might be able to return. In the meantime, Linton Maina (two assists, one goal in last four games) and now Denis Huseinbasic (two goals, one assist in last three games) have been manning the right side of the attack.

OCTOBER 19, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Thielmann - Remains out Thielmann (illness) missed training Tuesday, Koln announced.

Impact Thielmann has now been sidelined for over two weeks with an illness, putting him once again in doubt for Friday's clash with Mainz. If the winger is unable to return in some capacity for Wednesday training it's hard to see him getting any significant playing time.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Mark Uth - Picks up yellow card as sub Uth played 18 minutes in Sunday's 3-2 win over Augsburg, sending in one inaccurate cross and picking up a yellow card.

Impact Uth made his second appearance in the season, again off bench, and could not do much during his 18 minutes in the field. He did receive his first yellow card, though. The forward is returning from an injury that forced him to miss their first seven games in the campaign after starting 24 times in 2021-22, with five goals and eight assists to his name.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Denis Huseinbasic - Scores in first start Huseinbasic started and scored one goal from two shots in Sunday's 3-2 win over Augsburg, while sending in four inaccurate crosses and making two tackles (both won).

Impact Huseinbasic scored in the 61st minute to give them the 2-1 lead. That was his second goal in the season so far, to go with one assist. The midfielder logged his first start in four appearances, and will now look to secure a spot in the squad.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Linton Maina - Assists in home win Maina assisted one goal from his only chance created, took one shot on target, sent in seven crosses (two accurate) and made one tackle (zero won) in Sunday's 3-2 win over Augsburg...

Impact Maina assisted Steffen Tigges' 1-1 equalizer in the 47th minute, paving the way for their comeback home win. The midfielder also led his side with seven crosses, a season-high for him. He now has two assists and one goal in nine appearances (four starts).

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Steffen Tigges - Scores brace versus Augsburg Tigges scored two goals from five shots, created one chance, sent in two inaccurate crosses and made two tackles (one won) in Sunday's 3-2 win over Augsburg.

Impact Tigges scored their first and third goals in the match to give his side three points at home. The forward also led his side with a season-high five shots in the proccess. He now has three goals in seven appearances (six starts) in the campaign.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Concedes twice in win Schwabe made zero saves and one clearance in Sunday's 3-2 win over Augsburg.

Impact Schwabe could not make any saves for the second time in the season and conceded once in each half, but it was enough to help them win at home. The goalkeeper has only one clean sheet so far after 10 starts. He will now visit Mainz on Friday.

OCTOBER 18, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Eligible to return Kainz is eligible to return for Friday's trip to Mainz after missing a clash with Augsburg through suspension.

Impact Kainz was suspended after picking up a red card against Gladbach. The forward should be right back in the starting XI for Friday's trip to Mainz, where he should have the chance to build on his red-hot start to the season, with four goals and assists in just eight starts, putting him right among the favorites for player of the year.

OCTOBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Julian Chabot - Remains out Chabot (ankle) remains out indefinitely as he recovers from a severe ankle surgery, bild.de reports.

Impact Chabot was originally targeting a return at the start of October, but it's not multiple weeks into October and the defender has yet to even sniff the training ground. The ankle surgery was evidently more serious than expected, and Koln have already spoken about dipping back into the transfer market for a winter replacement for Chabot, potentially ruling him out well into 2023.

OCTOBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Sebastian Andersson - Out indefinitely Andersson underwent surgery on his meniscus and will be out indefinitely, according to bild.de.

Impact Andersson went against Koln's team doctor's wishes and underwent a meniscus surgery that was far more extensive than originally though. As a result the striker will be out until 2023 at the earliest and has possibly played his last match for Koln. Andersson is out indefinitely both due to the surgery and the fact that he has seemingly alienated his club entirely, with the club asking him to remain in Copenhagen for his recovery.

OCTOBER 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Dejan Ljubicic - Out 10-12 weeks Ljubicic (knee) will be out for 10-to-12 weeks during his recovery process, according to manager Steffen Baumgart ahead of Thursday's match against FK Partizan.

Impact Ljubicic was already ruled out until 2023 and now this puts a clearer schedule for when he'll be back. Kingsley Schindler should help take up Ljubicic's minutes until his return, though with three goals scored in nine games, Ljubicic will be an important absence.

OCTOBER 12, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Steffen Tigges - Shut down in defeat Tigges managed just a single shot off target during Sunday's 5-2 loss to Gladbach.

Impact Tigges made his third straight start up top and was held to just a single shot once more. The volume simply hasn't been there for Tigges since returning to the starting XI, in five starts this season Tigges has created just three chances and scored once with his only shot on goal.

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Linton Maina - Starts yet again Maina started for the second straight match but failed to create a chance during Sunday's 5-2 loss to Gladbach.

Impact Maina made just his third start of the campaign, lining up at the top of the attack once more. The midfielder was unable to do anything in the match though, especially once Koln went down to 10, and in the end Maina managed just a single inaccurate cross. Still Maina's strong form could see him continue in the starting XI both as a striker and in attacking midfield.

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Benno Erik Schmitz - Fails to create chance Schmitz failed to create a chance or send in a cross during Sunday's 5-2 loss to Gladbach.

Impact Schmitz had just about as poor of a game as is possible for the right-back, no shots, chances created, crosses or even tackles. He looked totally off the pace throughout most of the game and struggled on both sides of the ball. Schmitz got off to a red-hot start creating five chances in the season opener, but he has created just two since then despite holding onto the starting job at right-back.

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Kilian - Five clearances in defeat Kilian made five clearances and two blocks during Sunday's 5-2 loss to Gladbach.

Impact Kilian and Koln as a whole were completely overwhelmed by Gladbach, especially after going down to 10. Kilian made just a single tackle but had plenty to do in the box making clearances and blocks. The center-back should have less to do in more favorable game scripts though he has consistently made the most of the chances he's been given to accrue 15 tackles and 31 clearances in eight matches.

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Timo Hubers - Busy yet again Hubers made four clearances and one tackle during Sunday's 5-2 loss to Gladbach.

Impact Hubers had plenty to do in a match that Gladbach controlled throughout. The defender has played the full 90 in each match since returning from a knock suffered earlier in the campaign and is the center of Koln's back line. Hubers has found impressive volume of late with 16 clearances in his last two matches helping fill out his defensive volume.

OCTOBER 11, 2022 • ROTOWIRE