Borussia Dortmund suffer Julian Brandt injury blow

Borussia Dortmund have received another injury blow, after it was revealed that Julian Brandt will miss next Friday’s game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Brandt looked to have suffered an injury when he received a crunching tackle by Lars Bender early in Borussia Dortmund’s game against Bayer Leverkusen yesterday. The playmaker stayed on the pitch till the end of the first half, but was replaced at half-time by 17 year old Gio Reyna.

Borussia Dortmund have now confirmed that Brandt suffered an ankle ligament injury, and have already ruled him out of Friday’s Bundesliga clash against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Brandt hasn’t yet been ruled out of the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 tie against Paris St. Germain. But with just four days between the two games, it remains to be seen if he will be fit in time for that game.

Brandt’s injury is a massive blow to Borussia Dortmund, who are already without captain Marco Reus for at least four weeks. The 23 year old has developed into one of the Black and Yellows’ most important players since his summer arrival from Bayer Leverkusen. And his creativity will be sorely missed against Eintracht Frankfurt.

It remains to be seen who Lucien Favre will choose to replace him in the team. Brandt played in the number ten role on Saturday, and one of Gio Reyna or Mario Götze could come into the team if Favre decides to do a like for like swap. Or he could tweak his formation and recall Thorgan Hazard, who is more of a natural winger.