After the Werder Bremen U23 team's third league game on Tuesday night against Kickers Offenbach (a 1-0 defeat), senior side head coach Thomas Schaaf decided to add goalkeeper Sebastian Mielitz to the roster for the Europa League group game at CD Nacional Funchal (kickoff Thursday, 17 September 2009 at 9:05 p.m.).

"We have a four-hour flight ahead of us. It is not that easy to just show up there. If something happens to a goalkeeper it would be difficult to bring in a replacement in the last minute. That’s why we decided to have Sebastian Mielitz with us. Everything is fine with the other two keepers. This is solely a precautionary measure," said Schaaf, who named a 17-man roster Tuesday afternoon.

The Werder coach already found himself in the situation last season when regular keeper Tim Wiese got injured before a Champions League match at Anorthosis Famagusta and Mielitz had to fly in just in time. "Back then we just were able to work it out with the flights," said Schaaf, who does not want a repeat of that occasion. Mesut Özil, who had to leave the final training in Bremen early due to pain in his left knee, flew as planned with the team to the Atlantic island. It remains questionable if he can play against the Portuguese. "I will get treatment after I arrive and then we will see how it looks," said the German international.

The updated roster: The following 18 Werder players will arrive in Funchal at 1:20 p.m. Bremen time: Wiese, Vander, Mielitz – Boenisch, Pasanen, Naldo, Borowski, Fritz, Rosenberg, Marin, Özil, Hunt, Frings, Pizarro, Niemeyer, Mertesacker, Moreno Martins, Bargfrede