German-American teen Timothy Tillman is in contention to make his Bundesliga debut when promoted Nuremberg host Mainz in their first home game in the German top flight for over four years on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30PM CEST/ 1.30PM GMT/ 9.30AM ET).
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Bayern Munich loanee Tillman was an unused substitute as Nuremberg lost their season opener 1-0 at Hertha Berlin. Captain Hanno Behrens picked up a knock in that game, though, so there could be an opening in midfield come the weekend. Eduard Löwen is another option after recovering from a groin strain. Mikael Ishak, who missed a late penalty against Hertha, and summer signing Yuya Kubo are expected to continue in attack. Head coach Michael Köllner is restricted by injuries to a handful of first-team squad members, in any case.
Mainz kicked off with a hard-earned 1-0 win over VfB Stuttgart, but travel to the Max-Morlock Stadium without influential midfielder Jean-Philippe Gbamin. The Ivorian is set to be out for around three weeks after pulling a muscle in the first half of the game against Stuttgart. New signing Jean-Paul Boetius could go straight into Sandro Schwarz's squad, but there are doubts over Pablo de Blasis' involvement after the Argentine missed training on Wednesday. Matchday 1 scorer Anthony Ujah and substitute debutant Pierre Kunde are pushing for starts.
Probable line-ups
Nuremberg: Bredlow – Bauer, Mühl, Margreitter, Leibold – Behrens (c), Petrak, Fuchs – Salli, Ishak, KuboAbsentees: Behrens (muscular), Ewerton (ankle), Lippert (cruciate ligament), Valentini (thigh), Zrelak (ill)Coach: Michael Köllner
Mainz: Müller – Brosinski, Bell (c), Niakhate, Aaron – De Blasis, Kunde, Baku, Holtmann – Quaison, MatetaAbsentees: Adler, Berggreen (both knee), Burkardt (thigh), Gbamin (groin), Hack (foot), Latza (hernia), Öztunali (thigh)Coach: Sandro Schwarz