VfB Stuttgart will be without Josha Vagnoman until at least the November international break after the right-back suffered a thigh muscle injury, head coach Sebastian Hoeneß has confirmed.
The German international was forced off during last week’s 1-1 Champions League draw against Atlético Madrid and subsequently missed Friday’s dramatic 3-2 defeat to Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga.
Vagnoman was initially a doubt for the Gladbach clash, but scans revealed a thigh muscle injury that will require several weeks of recovery.
His absence is a significant blow for Stuttgart, who have relied heavily on his pace and attacking threat down the right flank this season.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s DFB-Pokal second-round tie against SC Paderborn, Hoeneß updated fans on the 24-year-old’s condition and ruled him out of the upcoming run of fixtures.
Hoeneß said he didn’t want to go into too much detail at that moment, but the player definitely won’t be available until the international break; after that, they’ll have to see how quickly he can return.
The November international break begins on November 10, meaning Vagnoman is set to miss at least four matches, including the cup clash with Paderborn, league games against Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen, and the Champions League trip to Atalanta.
In Vagnoman’s absence, Lorenz Assignon was handed his first start of the season on Friday against Mönchengladbach.
The French full-back, who joined from Rennes in the summer, put in a solid shift despite the defeat and is expected to deputize again on Wednesday.
Assignon offers a more defensive profile than Vagnoman, but Hoeneß will hope he can provide stability as Stuttgart navigate a congested fixture schedule.
Vagnoman’s injury adds to Stuttgart’s growing list of absentees, with the club already managing several knocks across the squad.
The coaching staff will be cautious not to rush him back, with a return after the international window now the most realistic target.
Image credits: Alex Grimm / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images
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