Ragnar Ache ruled out of Koln’s clash against Union Berlin

Ragnar Ache will miss FC Koln’s Bundesliga away fixture against Union Berlin on Sunday as the striker continues his recovery from a thigh muscle injury.

The 28-year-old had been targeting a return for the encounter at Stadion An der Alten Försterei after making progress in training, but head coach René Wagner has confirmed that he will not be included in the travelling squad.

“Ragy is not an option yet; it is still too early,” Wagner explained during Friday’s press conference.

Köln have decided against rushing the forward back into action, with the coaching staff keen to ensure he fully recovers before returning to competitive football.

Ache sustained the muscle injury during a friendly against Viktoria Köln earlier this month and has subsequently missed several matches, leaving the club without an important option in attack.

Despite missing Sunday’s encounter, Ache is moving closer to a comeback, with Köln identifying their Bundesliga meeting against Bayer Leverkusen on November 8 as a potential return date.

Wagner wants the striker to complete a full week of team training before being considered for selection.

“If he has a proper week of full team training before Leverkusen, he should be an option,” the coach indicated.

The cautious approach reflects the importance of Ache to Köln’s attacking plans, particularly with other forward options also unavailable through injury.

His potential return against Leverkusen would therefore provide Wagner with a welcome boost as Köln look to strengthen their attacking threat.

For now, the striker’s priority remains completing his rehabilitation and regaining full match fitness ahead of his anticipated return.