FC KÖLN NEWS

Ragnar Ache - Available against St. Pauli Ache (concussion) is fit and available for Saturday's clash against St. Pauli, coach Lukas Kwasniok said in the press conference. "He has now completed a full training week, has no...

Impact Ache has cleared all the concussion protocols and is back fit and available for Saturday's clash against St. Pauli after training in full and without complaints this week. The forward has started two of his last three appearances for Koln, scoring once and assisting once, which suggests he could claim back a similar role now that he is an option again.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Heintz - Suffers adductor tear Heintz has suffered a small muscle fiber tear in his adductor and is out for the next few weeks, according to his club.

Impact Heintz went down early in Saturday's match with an injury, and after further testing, the defender will be sidelined with a muscle tear. Unfortunately, he will miss some decent time with the injury, likely looking at weeks to possibly months, and not be an option until the new year. He has started to assume more of a starting role, so this is a rough break, with Rav van den Berg likely to earn more time while he is out, especially until Joel Schmied (thigh) returns.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Rav Van den Berg - Returns with solid display Van den Berg generated two tackles (two won), three clearances and two interceptions in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen.

Impact Van den Berg had been sidelined for eight matches with a shoulder injury, and although coach Lukas Kwasniok appeared unwilling to rush him back, he was forced into action after an early injury to Dominique Heintz. The defender delivered a strong performance with season highs of two tackles and two interceptions while completing 50 accurate passes.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Said El Mala - Scores late equalizer El Mala scored one goal to go with two shots (one on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and three chances created in Saturday's 1-1 draw versus Werder Bremen.

Impact El Mala has been rotated in the starting lineup over the last eight games, the winger started four away matches, scoring two goals from nine shots, and appeared as a substitute in four home games, adding two goals from 10 shots. He scored a late equalizer in this match and created a season-high three chances.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Three saves in draw Schwabe had three saves and allowed one goal in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen.

Impact Schwabe failed to make a clean sheet for the sixth consecutive game, conceding 11 goals during that span and making 22 saves, and still has not had a clean sheet at home this season. His next action will be against 17th-place St. Pauli on Saturday.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kristoffer Lund - Records first assist of season Lund assisted once to go with three crosses (two accurate) and two chances created in Saturday's 1-1 draw against Werder Bremen.

Impact After making six straight starts, Lund began the match on the bench but came on at halftime and registered his first assist, creating a season-high two chances. He added one tackle won and two interceptions defensively.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dominique Heintz - Suffers injury early Saturday Heintz (undisclosed) was forced off in the first half of Saturday's clash against Bremen due to an apparent injury.

Impact Heintz suffered an apparent injury in the first half of Saturday's clash against Bremen and was forced off since he couldn't carry on. The center-back was replaced by Rav van den Berg who is expected to see a greater role in the the back-three of St. Pauli if the injury to Heintz proves to be a serious one.

5 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Ragnar Ache - Ruled out due to concussion Ache is ruled out for Saturday's clash against Bremen after suffering a concussion in training on Wednesday, the club announced.

Impact Ache suffered a head injury in training on Wednesday and a concussion has been confirmed which rules him out for Saturday's clash against Bremen. The striker will follow all protocols until he is fully cleared to return. He has started two of the last three games although he has mainly served as a bench option this season for Koln. Marius Bulter is expected to take on a larger role in the frontline while he is out.

NOVEMBER 27 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - Three saves in loss Schwabe made three saves and allowed four goals in Saturday's 4-3 defeat versus Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Schwabe had a day to forget Saturday. He faced seven shots, stopped three of them and came one goal shy of earning a draw. The goalkeeper couldn't slow down the excellent Frankfurt attack and generally struggled to handle the speed Frankfurt play with. Schwabe is the unquestioned starter, and is likely to face plenty of volume throughout the campaign as Koln struggle to control matches.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Ragnar Ache - Assists against Frankfurt Ache assisted once to go with one shot (zero on goal) and three chances created in Saturday's 4-3 defeat against Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Ache created three chances and provided an assist against his former club during Saturday's all-action draw. The forward was so close to a couple more assists, but they just didn't fall the right way. Ache will hope to carry this volume moving forward as he looks to help Koln retain a place in the Bundesliga.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Said El Mala - Assists Saturday El Mala assisted once to go with two shots (zero on goal), two crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 4-3 loss versus Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact El Mala set up one goal during Saturday's clash, making the most of his only chance created. The forward didn't have the chance for much volume in the match, but he was efficient with what he did. El Mala will need to make the most of limited chances to return any sort of volume for the newly-promoted side.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Nets Saturday Waldschmidt scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal) and one chance created in Saturday's 4-3 defeat versus Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Waldschmidt found the back of the net Saturday, nearly doing enough to earn the win as he helped lead the late comeback. The winger made the most of the leaky Frankfurt defense during Saturday's clash, and will hope to use that match to build some form heading into the busy period before the Christmas break.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Jakub Kaminski - Nets in defeat Kaminski scored one goal to go with one shot (one on goal), two crosses (one accurate) and two chances created in Saturday's 4-3 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Kaminski scored once and created a pair of chances during Saturday's loss. The midfielder made the most of his chances on the ball and was a threat throughout the match. In the end he could have had a few more goal contributions with better finishing around him. Kaminski should maintain his role in the starting XI moving forward.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Marius Bulter - Nets for loss Bulter scored one goal to go with two shots (two on goal) and one cross (zero accurate) in Saturday's 4-3 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.

Impact Bulter found the back of the net during Saturday's loss, converting one of his two shots into a goal. The striker has been converted into a winger at some points throughout the season, but has largely done well since moving to Koln. Bulter should continue in a large role moving forward, though he will have to be efficient with somewhat limited chances.

NOVEMBER 24 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Uwe Thielmann - Starts as expected Thielmann (strain) is in the starting XI for Saturday's match against Frankfurt.

Impact Thielmann is fit once again after a strain left him out for a bit, as the midfielder is in the starting XI to face Frankfurt. He has yet to miss a start all season when an optiona nd should remain a starter moving forward, with two goals and one assist in seven appearances.

NOVEMBER 22 • ROTOWIRE

Jan Uwe Thielmann - Likely to start against Frankfurt Thielmann (strain) is back available for Koln and likely to start in Saturday's clash against Frankfurt, coach Lukas Kwasniok said in the press conference. "Jan is more than just a...

Impact Thielmann missed the last three games due to a muscle strain but appears to have fully recovered, as he is back available for Saturday's clash against Frankfurt and could even reclaim his starting role straight away against the Eagles.

NOVEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Rav Van den Berg - Plays 62 minutes Van den Berg (shoulder) played 62 minutes and captained Netherlands U21 in Tuesday's 3-1 defeat against Israel U21, confirming he is fully back fit, according to the club.

Impact Van den Berg returned from his shoulder injury and played a little more than an hour in Tuesday's defeat against Israel U21. This is an encouraging development for Koln since Van den Berg is a regular starter in their backline, and having him back fit for the upcoming fixtures is an important boost for the newly promoted Bundesliga side.

NOVEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Isak Bergmann Johannesson - Eight crosses, six corners Johannesson had eight crosses (three accurate) and six corners in Saturday's 3-1 loss against Monchengladbach.

Impact Johannesson updated his season high in crosses, chances created (five), accurate crosses and corners. This season, he has one goal on four shots, 36 crosses (12 accurate), 22 corners and 13 chances created.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Marius Bulter - Start with four shots, nine crosses Bulter registered four shots (one on goal), nine crosses (three accurate) and one chance created in Saturday's 3-1 defeat against Monchengladbach.

Impact Since late-October, the Koln team has logged three games, and two of them saw Bulter log a starter. The forward's latest appearance saw him double his previous season-high in shots and triple his latest season-high in crosses. Before the upcoming international break, Bulter enters it with five G/A (two goals and three assists) across eight appearances.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Luca Waldschmidt - Reserve goal scored Waldschmidt scored one goal to go with four shots (one on goal) and two crosses (zero accurate) in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Monchengladbach.

Impact Since the month of October, Waldschmidt has been limited by team choice. Koln's last five games saw him a healthy scratch for three and log less than an hour for his other two. Yet, Waldschmidt has two goals across his last five appearances, a level of form that suggests more usage of him may be warranted.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Marvin Schwabe - One save, three goals conceded Schwabe had one save and allowed three goals in Saturday's 3-1 loss to Monchengladbach.

Impact Schwabe tied his season worsts in both saves and goals conceded. He will look to bounce back after the upcoming international break, which will be proceeded by Koln's Nov. 22 game against Eintracht Frankfurt.

NOVEMBER 10 • ROTOWIRE

Jakub Kaminski - Scores, assists vs Hamburger Kaminski scored one goal and assisted once from four shots and four chances created in Sunday's 4-1 win versus Hamburger SV.

Impact Kaminski logged his first assist in the season in the 94th minute to give Koln the 3-1 lead. Four minutes later he scored his fourth goal to seal the deal. The midfielder led his side in both shots and chances created during the win.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Said El Mala - Scores as substitute El Mala scored one goal to go with four shots (two on goal) in Sunday's 4-1 victory against Hamburger SV.

Impact El Mala subbed on in the second half and scored in the 94th minute to give Koln the 3-1 lead with his fourth goal in the campaign. The forward co-led his side with a season-high four shots. That was his ninth appearance (two starts) so far.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Florian Kainz - Scores in first start Kainz scored one goal to go with four shots (two on goal), three crosses (one accurate) and one chance created in Sunday's 4-1 win versus Hamburger SV.

Impact Kainz scored his first goal in the campaign just after halftime to double Koln's lead. The midfielder led Koln with a season-high four shots in the match. That was his first start in six overall appearances.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE

Ragnar Ache - Starts, scores opener Ache scored one goal to go with three shots (one on goal) and one chance created in Sunday's 4-1 victory against Hamburger SV.

Impact Ache scored the opener in the 25th minute with his first goal in the campaign. The forward had a good overall outing, taking a season-high three shots and winning the most duels (eight) for Koln in the match. That was his second start in nine appearances.

NOVEMBER 5 • ROTOWIRE