The Defender Suffered Injury in Training After Recording First Bundesliga Assist
John Tolkin's promising start at Holstein Kiel has hit a temporary setback due to a thigh injury sustained during training. The 22-year-old American left-back, who joined the German club from New York Red Bulls in a $3 million transfer last month, will miss Sunday's crucial match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Before this injury, Tolkin had been making significant strides in the Bundesliga. His most notable contribution came in a 2-2 draw against Bochum, where he recorded his first assist for the club. Taking a long free kick just after halftime with his team trailing 2-1, Tolkin delivered a precise ball that found center back David Zec, who headed home the equalizer to secure a valuable point for Holstein Kiel.
The former Red Bulls defender has quickly adapted to German football, earning starts in his team's previous two matches. This included a challenging baptism by fire against Bayern Munich. Still, he showed his resilience and followed it up with an impressive performance against Bochum, providing the assist and making seven defensive clearances.
The timing of this injury could be particularly unfortunate, as it might affect Tolkin's availability for the upcoming USMNT Concacaf Nations League semifinal against Panama on March 20. Keil head coach Marcel Rapp has remained vague about the injury's severity, only stating that "such things are never good" while expressing confidence in his squad's depth.
The stakes are high for Holstein Kiel, who are currently in a precarious position in the Bundesliga table. They are just one point away from the promotion-relegation playoff spot and five points from safety, making Tolkin's swift recovery all the more crucial for their survival hopes.
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