The hopes at 1. FC Köln were high before the 0:2 against Leverkusen, but in the end striker Davie Selke was once again missing from the squad. But that is set to change next weekend
Davie Selke spent Sunday in the stands once again. Like almost 50,000 others, the 29-year-old attacker watched his 1. FC Köln lose 2-0 to league leaders Bayer Leverkusen as a spectator. And this despite the fact that there had been faint hopes in the cathedral city that it might at least have been enough for a place on the bench.
After all, the worst offense in the league (16 goals after 24 games) could urgently use its best striker with five goals this season. However, he suffered a foot injury in the first game of the year and has been absent ever since. Even against Leverkusen, although Selke had trained again the week before
The risk with Selke – or rather Adamyan?
“It was a sensible decision,” explained FC coach Timo Schultz afterwards, admitting: “I would have liked to have brought him on and he would have done us good too.” However, Selke had not taken part in a single full training session beforehand and had not been able to play eleven against eleven in training.
“He was out for more than six weeks. And Davie has a history of coming on too early,” said Schultz, explaining the decision not to play the 1.94-meter man, who has repeatedly suffered injuries. That’s why he opted for Sargis Adamyan in the center of attack alongside Jan Thielmann, who did a good job in place of Selke. In consultation with the professional and the medical department, Selke was left out – but this is set to change soon
Selke was back in training on Monday and should be fully fit again in the week leading up to the next away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Saturday. Whether Schultz will put the committed Adamyan back on the bench and start Selke from the beginning is unlikely, but not impossible.
Thielmann, who deputized for Selke most of the time and then started alongside Adamyan, will in any case be suspended (red card after a foul on Granit Xhaka). A fit Selke is “more than just an alternative” at 1. FC Köln, as Schultz is probably not the only one to see it
