Six Players We Might See in the Dortmund Starting Lineup

Our injury list is a complete starting lineup these days - and probably one that could manage a top three finish.

If these are the players who aren't available, who can we play? It seems at first glance that every center-back, central midfielder and attacking midfielder is injured. But there are a few people in the squad who haven't been called up too frequently, and they might just be who we need.

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Mikel Merino (center-back)

Photo by Johannes Simon/Bongarts/Getty Images

Merino's purchase from Osasuna this summer quickly got overshadowed by more flashier signings, and it seemed that the 20 year old would be doomed to the second team or the bench while the new signings took priority.

But now with nearly every other center-back injured, we have to call on Merino to man the defense.

Felix Passlack (full-back)

Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images

Last year's "best young German player" is currently our only full-back, what with Piszczek, Durm, and Guerreiro all injured. Fortunately for us, Felix has proved time and again that he is reliable, skilled and mature. Remember how he kept Frank Ribery in check in the DFL Supercup against Bayern Munich?

You've heard it here first: pretty soon Felix won't be a backup anymore but will be a big part of our starting lineup.

Nuri Sahin (central midfield)

Turkish heartthrob Nuri Sahin hasn't been seen much since he returned from injury, with TT favoring Guerreiro, Rode and Castro in the central midfield over him. But now that everyone else is injured, can Nuri make his way back to the first team.

Dzenis Burnic (central midfield)

Photo by Deniz Calagan/Getty Images

18 year old Burnic is the newest player to be promoted from the U19's to the first team. He hasn't yet made his first team debut in a competitive match, but he has shown that he can hold his own in friendlies and U19 matches. He seems to have the same maturity and decision-making that both Passlack and Pulisic possess - Wolf definitely trained the kids well!

With the central midfield as depleted as it is currently, I'm very glad that TT and co. had the foresight to promote Burnic this year.

Shinji Kagawa (attacking midfield)

Like with Nuri, TT seems to favor playing the newer players over Shinji, but now seems to be the right time for the fan favorite to get his place back in the first team.

Hamadi Al-Ghaddioui (center forward)

26 year old Al-Ghaddioui has definitely been making his presence felt this year in the Regionalliga West as a striker for Borussia Dortmund II. Perhaps we can call on him as a much-needed backup striker/attacking midfielder in the first team?

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So what do you guys think? What will our starting lineup look like against Hertha and in the upcoming games? Which players do you think TT should play?