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Relegation-threatened Bundesliga outfit Mainz 05 got rocked with unfortunate injury news this week when leading goalscorer and talisman Nadiem Amiri had to break off training due to a heel injury. Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone following Saturday afternoon’s 1-1 draw with Bayer Leverkusen, Mainz sporting director Niko Bungert confirmed that Amiri is set to miss several weeks. There is still some good news to report with respect to Mainz attacker Paul Nebel
Nadiem Amiri’s injury comes at a critical time for Mainz
Despite a marked revival under head coach Urs Fischer, Mainz are far from safe. The Rheinhessen occupy 14th place in the Bundesliga table on 23 points. The total places them only one solitary point above the promotion-relegation playoff place. Over the course of the next ten matchdays, Fischer’s team must still find a way of picking up 12 points in order to officially clinch safety.
Amiri – the squad’s main penalty taker and set-piece wizard – has scored a team-high 10 league goals this season. Amiri was also a very important factor in Mainz’s Conference League campaign, netting four goals in six UECL appearances. In addition to his goals, Amiri’s intangible leadership qualities will be sorely missed. No other Mainz professional has contributed more than two league goals this season.
Paul Nebel ready to pick up some of the slack?
The once celebrated Germany U21 international has had a highly disappointing season in which – prior to today – he only managed to get his name on the scoresheet once in 20 Bundesliga appearances. That changed against Leverkusen when the 23-year-old supplied a fine assist on Sheraldo Becker’s goal. Overall, Nebel turned in a very strong performance and earned GGFN Man-of-the-Match honors.
“Paul has struggled in recent weeks, but he’s dealt with it superbly,” Bungert told reporters. “We conceded very little today against a team with very strong individual players and defended superbly. I’m very proud of that and think we’re on the right track.“
