Can Bobby Wood help fire Hannover to a first Bundesliga victory of the season when the top-flight's bottom side play host to VfB Stuttgart on Saturday (kick-off 3:30CEST/2:30pm BST/9:30EST)?
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The promise of early season draws with Bremen and Dortmund has faded at the HDI Arena with Andre Breitenreiter's men slipping to four straight defeats in as many games since. Last weekend's 4-1 loss at Frankfurt also came at the cost of an ankle injury to forward Niclas Füllkrug, who — though not as badly hurt as first feared — is still likely to miss out. In his absence, USMNT international Wood could start ahead of fellow back-up Henrik Weydandt as the pair hope for a starting position.
Stuttgart have problems too with Anastasios Donis and Dennis Aogo both suffering thigh injuries in the win — Stuttgart's first this season — against Werder Bremen last time out. Donis, who had scored his side's opening goal, definitely misses out as the Greek forward's run of bad luck continues while Aogo is also set to watch from the sidelines. Gonzalo Castro, who replaced Donis and was VfB's matchwinner against Werder, should start in midfield while Daniel Didavi is working to be fit to start after picking up a knock over the weekend.
Probable line-ups
Hannover: Esser - Sorg, Anton (c), Wimmer, Albornoz - Schwegler, Walace - Bebou, Maina, Asano - WoodAbsentees: Füllkrug (ankle)Coach: Andre Breitenreiter
Stuttgart: Zieler - Beck, Baumgartl, Pavard, Sosa - Ascacibar, Castro, Gentner (c) - Didavi - Gonzalez, GomezAbsentees: Donis (thigh), Aogo, Kempf (both thigh)Coach: Tayfun Korkut
Match stats
Stuttgart assistant coach Steve Cherundolo is Hannover's record Bundesliga appearance maker. The former USA right-back turned out 302 times for Die Roten in Germany's top flight.
Stuttgart goalkeeper Zieler played 185 times for Hannover before leaving for Leicester City in 2016. The 29-year-old – whose howler against Werder Bremen last week didn't prevent VfB claiming a 2-1 win – has made the most saves (25) in the Bundesliga this season.
Hannover are the only team yet to win in the Bundesliga this term, and find themselves in 18th place for the first time since their top-flight return in 2017/18.
VfB haven't won away from home since the final day of last season, when they thrashed champions Bayern Munich 4-1 at the Allianz Arena.
Andre Breitenreiter's Hannover have the joint-worst defensive record in the league, having conceded 13 goals in six games (the same as Freiburg and Bayer Leverkusen).
Hannover and Stuttgart were both relegated from the Bundesliga in 2016, and both promoted back to the top flight at the first time of asking in 2017.