Germany Watch: Manchester City’s İlkay Gündoğan to miss international break

The next international break might not offer Bayern Munich’s boys much of, well, a break.

Manchester City star midfielder İlkay Gündoğan is reportedly out until mid-October with a thigh injury, which will cause him to miss the next set of games for Hansi Flick’s German national team.

While İlkay Gündoğan figured to be a bench player behind Thomas Müller (10), Leon Goretzka (8), and Joshua Kimmich (6), but his absence will likely mean that one of the squad’s young contingent of midfielders could get an opportunity:

Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Florian Neuhaus, Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, and Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz figure to pick up some additional minutes without Gündoğan available. Borussia Dortmund’s Mahmoud Dahoud (if he is recalled) could also stand to benefit from Gündoğan missing the break.

Regardless, Germany should be able to push through Romania and North Macedonia with or without Gündoğan. Flick has shown the ability to be flexible with his lineups and formations, so the squad should be able to adjust without the Manchester City man in tow.