Werder Bremen had only just begun to enjoy the sight of an ever emptier treatment room and all of a sudden, it’s one very important man richer. The Bundesliga game against Karlsruhe SC will take place without the services of German international Torsten Frings. The 31 year old was able to complete the final pre-match training session on Friday, but had to pass on any hope of being involved on Saturday due to an ankle injury.

Frings picked up the injury during training on Thursday: “We had hoped that things would develop decidedly better but that wasn’t to be the case. He was able to train with us today, and he gave his all, but he’s just not in any condition to withstand the strain of a match,” explained trainer Thomas Schaaf, who had a special eye on his vice-captain during the session: “It was clear to see from his movement that he was carrying a knock.”

That considered, the following 18 players will make the trip to Karlsruhe:

Wiese, Pasanen, Naldo, Vranjes, Fritz, Rosenberg, Diego, Özil, Tosic, Owomoyela, Klasnic, Sanogo, Jensen, Almeida, Borowski, Niemeyer, Mertesacker, Vander.