Ethan Ampadu is expected to miss RB Leipzig’s game away to Mainz tomorrow afternoon because of the back injury that has been troubling the teenager since February.
The on-loan Chelsea player is understood to be suffering from growing pains, an issue that his Wales manager Ryan Giggs indicated has proven troublesome for more than a year.
While he is officially rated as doubtful for the game against struggling Mainz, who were hammered 8-0 in the reverse fixture, it is understood that he will not be hurried back by Julian Nagelsmann.
In any case the Leipzig head coach has only used Ampadu sparingly this season, most notably in the Champions League round of 16 first leg away to Tottenham Hotspur when the German side were facing a defensive injury crisis but still won 1-0.
Dayot Upamecano is expected to return to the middle of Leipzig's back three after missing last weekend’s draw at home to Freiburg through suspension.
The 21-year-old breakout star of the campaign. has been tracked by Arsenal and Manchester United. He is out of contract in 2021 and with a buyout clause of around £54million seems likely to depart in the next window.
Leipzig have drawn their past three games and trail league leaders Bayern Munich by seven points, a deficit that could stretch to double figures this evening should the reigning champions win at home to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Timo Werner, who has been monitored by Chelsea, has not been as prolific since the turn of the year but after scoring a hat-trick in that 8-0 win will be confident of getting back on track.
