Borussia Dortmund vs SC Freiburg preview - Kagawa set for second debut

Posted Friday, September 12, 2014 by PA

Shinji Kagawa will make his second Borussia Dortmund debut this Saturday with coach Jurgen Klopp able to select from only 15 fit players for the clash with Freiburg.

Klopp would not confirm whether the Japanese midfielder, signed back from Manchester United just prior to the transfer deadline, will start at the Westfalenstadion, but with Marco Reus ruled out for a month after picking up an injury while on international duty, the chances appear high.

"We can't wait for another two weeks," said Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp at a press conference on Thursday. "Shinji is going to be important for us right away.

"He's made a good impression and it seems he's still got some files from his time here left on his hard drive. He's going to get his minutes."

Ciro Immobile also returned from international duty with a hip problem which may mean he can only take a place on the bench at best while there was even worse news from Jakub Blaszczykowski, who was on the brink of returning from a thigh injury.

Instead, the Pole has been ruled out for a further four to five weeks after straining tendons in his thigh.

"That's really hit all of us hard," said Klopp, who was angered that the media was only interested in Reus and not the Polish midfielder.

Freiburg coach Christian Streich has fewer concerns, also because he had fewer players on international duty over the past two weeks.

He has been able to spend that time with largely a full squad, building them up for Saturday's trip which he feels they are ready for.

"We're always looking forward to playing in Dortmund," he said. "We're not going there with any fear."

Statistically speaking, that confidence finds little justification with Freiburg winning on only one of their past 16 visits to the Westfalenstadion.

Streich is without the suspended Karim Guede and the injured Sascha Riether, who is still waiting to make his Bundesliga comeback after joining from Fulham this summer.