Head wound puts Džeko’s Köln appearance in doubt

Džeko needed stitches after aerial collision

Edin Džeko is a doubt for Schalke’s match against 1. FC Köln next weekend after suffering a deep cut to his head in Saturday’s home defeat by Mainz 05.

The injury came in the second half at the Veltins Arena, when Džeko collided accidentally with a Mainz defender while challenging for the ball in the air. Schalke said the laceration, several centimetres long, was treated with multiple stitches by club doctor Patrick Ingelfinger. Džeko was unable to continue and was replaced by Hwang Hee-chan.

Availability remains uncertain

Schalke have not confirmed whether Džeko will be fit to face Köln. The report noted a comparable head injury suffered by VfB Stuttgart’s Maximilian Mittelstädt against Paderborn; he subsequently missed two matches. That precedent does not establish how long Džeko will be sidelined.

Schalke lost 1-0 to Mainz in the match in which the injury occurred.