Werder Bremen’s roster problems increased after two more players joined the team’s injury list. Patrick Owomoyela and Sebastian Boenisch won’t be able to play in Werder’s clash with the raining champions VfB Stuttgart.

Owomoyela recently underwent an operation at his thigh and although he was looking fit and ready to resume playing he reportedly felt pain at the operated area when he was warming up for the Champions League match with Real Madrid.. Werder lost 2-1 at Spaniard’s hands.

Boenisch is also struggling, but with a knee problem, so Bremen’s Coach - Thomas Schaaf - now has nine players receiving treatment and recovering from injuries and one suspended.

"I am not concerned about what I don't have but about who is available," said Schaaf. "I will have to see how I can put out a functioning team with what I have."

Schaaf didn’t estimate when long-term absentees and at the same time Werder’s core players Clemens Fritz, Torsten Frings, Tim Borowski, Pierre Wome, Ivan Klasnic, Carlos Alberto and Aaron Hunt would be able to play again.

"I can't give a prognosis. It could be two or three weeks before the first of them returns to the squad," he said.

Leon Andreasen is serving a suspension after his was sent off in last week's defeat at Borussia Dortmund. Boubacar Sanogo and Petri Pasanen are carrying knocks but are expected to be play.

Werder ended the last two matches in defeat and are now 13th in Bundesliga, while Stuttgart comes after a 3-0 win, at home, against Energie Cottbus.

Bundesliga’s surprise teams so far are Arminia Bielefeld and Eintracht Frankfurt, which complete the top three behind Bayern Munchen.
After a full-speed start, Bayern drew 1-1 draw at home against Schalke in the previous round and the competition took notice.

"Of course we can beat Bayern," Karlsruhe's captain Mario Eggimann said. "But they have a super team and one point would be good too."