Brits abroad: Bellingham straining at the leash to down Mainz
- Matty Briggs
- 15 October 2021
With Jude Bellingham itching to get back into action and Erling Haaland returning, Dortmund look like formidable opposition this weekend in the Bundesliga.
Gareth Southgate explained his decision to leave the 18-year-old in Germany.
And with two weeks rest, Bellingham will likely be a caged tiger against resolute Mainz.
Mainz, in fact, boast the meanest defence in the German top flight with just five goals conceded in seven games. However, they will be hindered by the absence of speedster Jerry St Juste against Dortmund.
Dutch defender St Juste is the fastest player ever recorded in the Bundesliga after he was clocked at 22.6mph in the last game against Union Berlin.
And Mainz could certainly do with St Juste with Erling Haaland set to return. The prolific striker, who averages a goal every 64 minutes in the Bundesliga, has missed the last three games with a muscular problem, but he looks set to return at Signal Iduna Park.
Haaland always looks like a shoo-in to score, but with St Juste missing he will look to fill his boots.
Dortmund have scored five, three, four and two goals in their four home games to date and they could well get among the goals again.
St Juste's stand-in will be club captain Moussa Niakhate, but he has been missing with a hamstring injury of late and has played just 14 minutes in the last month. Not the ideal preparation to face a striker like Haaland, who has scored seven goals in five Bundesliga appearances.
Juventus v Roma
Sunday evening's encounter could see Roma's Tammy Abraham in action against Juventus.
For Juventus, Aaron Ramsey would no doubt love a run-out as he looks towards a January move back to England.
In truth though the 30-year-old will be lucky to get a place on Max Allegri's bench, despite starting both of Wales' games recently.
Ramsey has admitted to "frustration" in Turin and earlier this month he took a swipe at Allegri.
"The training philosophy and methods are different in my club from here," he said on Wales duty.
"There are a lot of people here who have a number of years of managing me. So they know how to get the best out of me and allow me to play a lot of games in a row, like I showed in the Euros.
As for Abraham, his status for the game isn't expected to be certain until the last moment after limping off at Wembley for England.
Abraham replaced Harry Kane against Hungary, but had to be subbed himself after picking up an ankle problem.
Scans have revealed no structural or ligament damage. However, there is still heavy swelling.
Abraham will be a miss for Jose Mourinho if he fails to be deemed fit. The former Chelsea striker has four goals and two assists in all competitions.
Roma's Chris Smalling has been ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury on his return against Empoli at the start of October.
Still, without Smalling, Roma have started the season well, while Juve have been steadily improving. Expect this one to be a draw.
