Preparations are underway for the landmark away game at Arminia Bielefeld on Saturday next week. Coach Adi Hütter can plan with some returnees.
The next one is Ramy Bensebaini. The left-back, who had a surprising early exit from the Africa Cup with Algeria’s national team after the preliminary round, is expected back at Borussia-Park today, Wednesday.
Bensebaini will probably not be able to reel off his full training load right away, but there is plenty of time before next Saturday’s match in Bielefeld, where three very important points are at stake. The 26-year-old will be available for the basement clash, having not yet played a game for Borussia due to his participation in the Africa Cup in the current second half of the season.
Time is also enough for Kramer – Benes back in full training
Time will also be enough for Christoph Kramer to get match fit for Bielefeld. After a persistent cold following the 2-1 away win at FC Bayern to start the second half of the season, the midfielder resumed team training for the first time on Tuesday. Kramer did not take part in all the exercises yesterday – in contrast to Laszlo Benes. The Slovakian was also absent due to injury recently, but will again be an option in midfield for Bielefeld. “I’m glad that we now have more or less all the players together and not many players are away again because of international matches,” Hütter said.
The next weeks without Stindl
One absence that will hit Gladbach hard, however, is certain. As has been known since the weekend, the Foals will have to do without Lars Stindl for the time being in the relegation battle. The captain suffered a partial tear of the medial ligament in his knee, and the injury will condemn the attacking player to a period of inactivity over the next few weeks.
