Mainz's Attacker Back after Year-Long Absence
Germany U21 national team alum Jonathan Burkardt is making his comeback to FSV Mainz 05's squad after a grueling one-year layoff due to a left knee injury. The 23-year-old underwent two surgeries due to bone marrow edema. Mainz fans missed the former captain's skills since his last appearance in a November 2022 derby against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Despite his return, Burkardt might begin on the bench for the Bundesliga clash against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim on Sunday. As his injuries kept him out of the team's recent matches against Stuttgart and Augsburg, Mainz's lineup remains largely unchanged for this matchup.
Burkardt's potential entry as a substitute late in the game signals his imminent return to the team. With his fresh legs and skills, he could push the team forward and contribute to future victories.
Further Enrichment: Current injuries restrict Burkardt's participation against Hoffenheim, but his upcoming role as a substitute points at a swift reintegration into the team. Mainz's lineup for this outing maintains the pairing of Paul Nebel and Jae-sung Lee with Armindo Sieb up front, while the back three and midfield setups remain relatively steady, with Dominik Kohr, Maxim Leitsch, and Andreas Hanche-Olsen anchoring in defense, and Kaishu Sano and Nadiem Amiri controlling the middle field.
