Wolfsburg vs. Cologne: probable teams, match stats and LIVE blog!

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Things have not quite gone to plan for Wolfsburg under new head coach Niko Kovac yet. Draws with Werder Bremen and Schalke have been alternated with defeats by Bayern Munich and, most recently, RB Leipzig, leaving the Wolves with just two points on the board. The absences of attackers Jonas Wind and Patrick Wimmer have been keenly felt in the last couple of games, no doubt contributing to the Wolves' lack of bite going forward: they're without a goal in their last three assignments. Wimmer should be in contention for Saturday after recovering from a training-ground collision, providing the pace and trickery to complement Kruse's guile, with Lukas Nmecha expected to lead the line once again. Jerome Roussillon and Yannick Gerhardt remain in the treatment room alongside Wind, so Paulo Otavio should continue at left-back.

Whereas Wolfsburg can't win at the moment, Cologne can't lose. As one of just four unbeaten teams left in the Bundesliga this season, the Billy Goats are eighth in the table on six points. After opening with a victory over Schalke, however, Steffen Baumgart's charges have drawn their three subsequent outings, most recently last week's goalless stalemate with VfB Stuttgart. Baumgart is yet to settle on a first-choice striker following the departure of talisman Anthony Modeste, although Florian Dietz appears to be ahead of Steffen Tigges and Sargis Adamyan in the pecking order at present. Mark Uth misses out after surgery, with Benno Schmitz and Jeff Chabot also sidelined after ankle injuries suffered last weekend.

Watch: Highlights of Cologne's late win in Wolfsburg last season

Match stats

Kruse is closing in on a century of Bundesliga goals and would reach the milestone here with a hat-trick.

Josip Brekalo clearly enjoys facing Cologne: the Croatian has two goals and two assists in seven games against the Billy Goats, losing just once (four wins, two draws).

With just two points from their first four games, the Wolves are currently enduring their worst ever start to a Bundesliga season.

Uth is just one appearance away from his 50th competitive outing for Cologne.

Head coach Baumgart made 32 Bundesliga outings for Wolfsburg during his playing days between 1998-2000, scoring five times.

Five of the Billy Goats' six Bundesliga goals this term have come in the second half of their matches.

Get Kruse for your Fantasy team for 11M!

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Probable teams

Wolfsburg: Casteels - Baku, Lacroix, Van de Ven, Otavio - Guilavogui, Arnold (c) - Kaminski, Kruse, Philipp - L. Nmecha

Out: Gerhardt (ligament), Roussillon (Achilles), Wind (thigh), Wimmer (head)

Doubtful: Paredes (knee)

Coach: Niko Kovac

Cologne: Schwäbe - Schindler, Kilian, Hübers, Hector (c) - Skhiri - Ljubicic, Duda, Kainz - Thielmann, Dietz

Out: Chabot (ankle), Limnios (knee), Olesen (ankle), Schmitz (ankle), Uth (pubic bone)

Doubtful: Martel (hand)

Coach: Steffen Baumgart

About the clubs VfL Wolfsburg

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