Former Chelsea winger Andre Schurrle's struggles at Wolfsburg continue after coach Dieter Hecking confirmed the Germany international is not a guaranteed starter against Bayer Leverkusen despite the club's ongoing injury troubles.
Schurrle, 24, joined Wolfsburg from Chelsea in February in a deal worth excess of €30 million, but has not been able to win a regular role in Hecking's side.
The World Cup winner has played a full 90 minutes just once this season, and has started in only five of his 12 appearances in all competitions.
The winger came off the bench to score Wolfsburg's late consolation goal in the 3-1 DFB-Pokal defeat to Bayern Munich on Tuesday, but has not been guaranteed a start against Leverkusen on Saturday.
"No," was Hecking's short reply to reporters asking him whether an injury to Germany international Max Kruse meant that Schurrle would start against his former club Leverkusen.
Kruse had suffered a muscle injury prior to the cup match against Bayern, and is also set to miss the Champions League match at PSV Eindhoven next week.
However, Hecking might be able to select right-back Christian Trasch. The 28-year-old limped off the pitch against Bayern with a muscle strain, but could return for the mid-week clash in the Netherlands.
"We've got a good and broad squad," Hecking said, and added that Trasch will most likely be rested for the PSV clash. "The question is whether we'll take any risks on Saturday."
Local paper Wolfsburger Allgemeine Zeitung also believes that centre-back Dante, left-back Ricardo Rodriguez and holding midfielder Joshua Guilavogui could be rested against Leverkusen.
Leverkusen and Wolfsburg are among the candidates to win one of the three remaining Champions League spots this season, with runaway leaders Bayern well on the way to securing their qualification for the 2016-2017 season after winning the opening 10 games of the season -- a new Bundesliga record.
Wolfsburg, currently fourth in the league, have picked up 18 points in 10 games, while Leverkusen are slowly picking up pace and sit sixth with 17 points.