Three Borussia Dortmund players picked up injuries during their 2-1 defeat to FC Augsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Borussia Dortmund's poor run of form in the Bundesliga continued on Saturday afternoon as they fell to a 2-1 defeat to FC Augsburg. To make matters worse for the Black and Yellows, three players joined the ever-growing injury list.
Waldemar Anton picked up what appeared to be a thigh injury in the first-half and was replaced by Emre Can at half-time. Marcel Sabitzer was also taken off at half-time due to back problems.
Borussia Dortmund face injury crisis in defence
Meanwhile, Julian Ryerson was forced off in the second-half due to an adductor injury, with Almugera Kabar coming on to replace him. Kabar was then sent off after picking up two yellow cards on what was his Borussia Dortmund first-team debut.
"I don't think they'll be available (against Stuttgart). (Marcel) Sabitzer and Waldemar (Anton) are guys who wouldn't go out if there was any way they could. They had serious problems. And Julian (Ryreson) is running on fumes at the moment. When things aren't going well, that's what happens," Nuri Sahin said during his post-match press conference.
The Black and Yellows were already without Niklas Süle and Yan Couto on Saturday, with the former sidelined until next month's international break and the latter's return date uncertain.
So the injury to Anton leaves BVB with just one fit senior centre-back in Nico Schlotterbeck. Highly rated centre-back Filippo Mane could get his maiden first-team opportunity as a result of the injury crisis in defence.
Borussia Dortmund's next game will see them take on VfL Wolfsburg in the second round of the DFB-Pokal. Nuri Sahin's side will then be in action against RB Leipzig at home in the Bundesliga.