Noel Aseko not yet ready to start for Eintracht Frankfurt

Noel Aseko must remain patient for his Eintracht Frankfurt breakthrough despite recovering from a knee injury.

The 20-year-old central midfielder was unused in Frankfurt’s 4-1 defeat to Augsburg, with head coach Adi Hutter saying he has not yet shown enough in training to earn a place in the starting line-up.

“He first has to be ready for it,” Hutter said after the game. “That is why I did not play him, because he is still not at the point where I see in training that he can start.” The coach instead selected Mario Gotze and Raphael Onyedika in midfield, describing the pair as the team’s heartbeat for long periods and praising their control of the central areas.

Hütter nevertheless made clear that Aseko remains part of Frankfurt’s plans. “Noel will definitely still come,” he added, suggesting the youngster will receive an opportunity once his condition and training level improve.

New signing Lilian Brassier was already handed his starting debut alongside Robin Koch in defence. Hutter praised their first-half work, saying both players performed “superbly” and gave little away. However, he admitted that Frankfurt’s defensive organisation deteriorated after the interval, with communication in the reshaped back line not yet fully established.