Tottenham loanee Moore looks set for first Köln start, El Mala to begin on bench

Said El Mala is in line to return to the 1. FC Köln squad for their upcoming clash with Werder Bremen, but a place in the starting line-up will come too soon for the winger. Mikey Moore, meanwhile, looks set to make his first start for Köln since joining on loan from Tottenham.

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1. FC Köln are set to be boosted by the returns of Said El Mala and Thijs Dalinga ahead of their Bundesliga clash with Werder Bremen on Saturday.

El Mala, however, is not yet back to 100 percent after recovering from illness and will therefore start on the bench, Köln coach René Wagner confirmed on Friday.

“Thijs was already able to return to the pitch and start last Sunday. Said, on the other hand, needed a few more days. That’s why probably only one of the two will be able to start,” Wagner said, according to Bild.

“For Said, the priority now is to get back into his rhythm after being ill for six days. For now, he has the chance to come off the bench and make an impact," he added.

Meanwhile, Wagner confirmed that Ellyes Skhiri will start in central midfield and also hinted at including Tottenham loanee Mikey Moore in his starting XI.

“If you can start in the Premier League, you can also start here in the Bundesliga. So Mikey is a candidate for the starting XI,” Wagner said.

The Köln coach appears to have a central role in mind for the 19-year-old.

“We have a player in him who can cause a lot of trouble for opponents in the centre,” Wagner said.

Köln welcome Werder Bremen to the RheinEnergieStadion on Saturday, with kick-off scheduled for 18:30 CEST.