Schlotterbeck rolled around on the pitch in pain on Wednesday during training, covering his face with his hands, while Jurgen Klopp hurried over to his stricken defensive leader. As if the Germany coach did not already have enough to worry about.

He had tried to put the results crisis to one side for two hours in the bright sunshine in Herzogenaurach. Then came another setback in the form of an injury scare involving the Borussia Dortmund star.

Before the trip to Munich for the Nations League clash with Serbia, Klopp has lost an important pillar of his team. The new boss is hoping to finally celebrate his first win near Munich's Oktoberfest. Instead, he was suddenly forced to rethink his plans for his third game on Thursday evening.

The newcomer Finn Jeltsch is ready to step in for Schlotterbeck, who had been with the German team as one of six players from 'squad one'.

Jeltsch is one of up to nine potential debutants in Klopp's 'squad two' as part of his XXL audition for a brighter future for Germany.

"Now the next group is coming in. They're rested, so we can do a little more," said the German boss.

The fresh impetus is welcome after the worst start by a Germany coach, featuring a 1-1 draw in the Netherlands and a sobering 0-1 home debut against Greece.