Last Saturdays goal celebrations were followed by a sobering thigh injury for captain Frank Baumann. On Monday morning the confirmation; The midfielder will not be fit to face Basel: "It's just not better yet and I don't want to risk the game in Mainz", explained the 29 year old who is momentarily undertaking individual training with physio Stefan Wolters.
Better tidings on the other hand for Nelson Valdez who had to sit Saturdays home win out with a back problem but was back in full team training on Monday. "I'm still a little careful going up for headers but that's getting better, otherwise I have no pain and I'm ready to play in Basel."
Following team training on Monday, trainer Thomas Schaaf nominated an 18 man squad for the trip to the Swiss champions. The squad will include two changes to the side which won in such superior fashion at the weekend. Pekka Lagerbloom fills in for the injured Frank Baumann and Nelson Valdez returns at the expense of Mohamed Zidan who will be left behind in Bremen.
The squad is: Reinke, K.Jensen, Davala, Owomoyela, Naldo, Pasanen, Andreasen, van Damme, Schulz, Vranjes, Micoud, Frings, Borowski, Lagerbloom, Hunt, Klasnic, Klose and Valdez.