In training at West Ham
©IMAGO
Niclas Füllkrug has missed a possible call-up for the World Cup qualifiers against Luxembourg and Northern Ireland due to another injury. As national coach Julian Nagelsmann told “Sportschau” before the game against Luxembourg in Sinsheim, the attacker tore a muscle bundle in his thigh.
The 32-year-old was injured during training with his club West Ham United this week. He will have to take another break for several weeks. Nagelsmann noted that he wanted to nominate the center forward as a player with strong aerial ability as a potential replacement for Nick Woltemade, who was weakened by a flu-like infection until mid-week. He did not include Füllkrug in his original squad.
For the former Dortmund player, the new injury is the next setback. This year he was only used in two international matches in June at the Nations League final tournament as a joker against Portugal (1:2) and for 90 minutes against France (0:2). Last year, a persistent calf injury slowed him down. Before the start of the World Cup qualifiers in September in Slovakia (0-2), he had to pass again due to injury. Füllkrug was last in the starting line-up at West Ham in the Premier League, but did not score a goal.