American soccer prospects Josh Sargent and Timothy Tillman will be itching for a piece of the action when Werder Bremen host Nuremberg on Sunday (kick-off: 3.30PM CEST/ 1.30PM GMT/ 9.30AM ET).
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Sargent has been in prolific form for the Bremen reserves this season, scoring five goals in seven appearances in Germany's fourth tier. The 18-year-old USA international is yet to be included in a Bundesliga matchday squad, but it is surely only a matter of time before Florian Kohfeldt makes the call. In the meantime, the Werder head coach could reward Yuya Osako and Milot Rashica for their goal-scoring efforts in the Matchday 2 win at Eintracht Frankfurt with starts. Goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka should start after recovering from a head injury sustained against Frankfurt. Midfielder Nuri Sahin - a deadline-day signing from Borussia Dortmund - is fighting to shake off a rib injury.
Nuremberg got their first points on the board after holding Mainz to a 1-1 draw before the international break. Mikael Ishak broke the deadlock for last season's Bundesliga 2 runners-up, a week after missing a penalty in the 1-0 defeat to Hertha Berlin. Nuremberg-born Tillman was an unused substitute for the second successive match, but the Bayern Munich loanee - who recently switched his allegiance to the USA national team - could make it a case of third time lucky when Der Club make the long trip north to the Weser Stadium. Brazilian defender Ewerton remains on the sidelines.
Watch: All you need to know about Werder Bremen!
Probable line-ups
Bremen: Pavlenka - Gebre Selassie, Veljkovic, Moisander, Augustinsson – Bargfrede - Eggestein, Klaassen - Osako, Kainz – Rashica, Kruse (c)Absentees: Bartels (Achilles), Drobny (calf), Johannsson (ankle), Kapino (thigh), Käuper (ankle), Zetterer (pseudarthrosis)Coach: Florian Kohfeldt
Nuremberg: Bredlow – Valentini, Mühl, Margreitter, Leibold – Behrens (c), Petrak, Fuchs – Palacios, Ishak, KuboAbsentees: Ewerton (ankle), Lippert (cruciate ligament), Zrelak (ill)Coach: Michael Köllner