FC Köln suffered a bitter 0-1 defeat to Karlsruher SC on Saturday evening, a loss that not only dented their promotion hopes but also left them sweating over the fitness of their attacking star Linton Maina.
The 25-year-old winger, whose father is Kenyan and mother is German, was forced off injured in the 38th minute after bravely attempting to play through the pain. His injury woes began as early as the 16th minute when he made a crucial recovery run to halt a Karlsruhe counterattack.
After a misplaced FC Köln corner, Karlsruhe’s Kaufmann broke free towards goal, but Maina used his blistering pace to track back and make a last-ditch tackle in the penalty area. However, in the process, he suffered an ankle injury that left him limping. Despite receiving treatment and pushing through for another 22 minutes, the pain eventually became unbearable, forcing him to be substituted and head straight into the dressing room.
Köln head coach Gerhard Struber expressed his concern after the game, stating, “We spoke briefly. It’s an ankle injury. We don’t yet know what exactly happened. The ankle is glowing a little, which is not the best sign. We’ll do a scan on Sunday and then we’ll know more.”
Maina’s potential absence would be a major setback for Köln, given his pivotal role in their attack. The dynamic winger has been instrumental this season, leading the league in assists with ten and adding three goals of his own. With 13 goal involvements, he shares the title of Köln’s most dangerous player alongside striker Damion Downs. However, Köln’s attacking struggles in recent weeks have been evident, netting just five goals in seven matches. Losing Maina for an extended period could further derail their ambitions.
Midfielder Florian Kainz underscored Maina’s importance, stating, “Linton is very important for us. On the pitch and also within the team. An absence would really hurt, I hope it’s nothing serious.”
Statistically, Maina was impactful before his premature exit. He completed eight of his 12 passes and won three of his five ground duels, demonstrating his ability to influence play. His injury now leaves Köln anxiously awaiting medical results, hoping the diagnosis won’t cast a shadow over their season.
Maina is scheduled for a scan at Cologne’s Mediapark Clinic on Sunday. FC Köln and their fans will be hoping for positive news as they brace for what could be a crucial period in their campaign.
