Even two months after his arrival at VfL Bochum, attacker Lys Mousset is still not fit enough for the Bundesliga – and is getting an extra programme from coach Thomas Letsch.

The signing of Lys Mousset shortly after the start of the season in mid-August was associated with hopes that VfL Bochum would have added another facet to their attacking game. Two months later, the reality is different. The striker is not even allowed to train with the team at the moment.

“He’s just not fit

Even before the Frankfurt game, coach Thomas Letsch had ruled out using the 26-year-old against VfB Stuttgart (Saturday, 15 October, 15:30, RS-Liveticker. “He is simply not fit enough to help the team.” At the time, Mousset was in bed with a cold, but Letsch’s statement was worded regardless of his health condition.

“In the relegation battle, it’s about only putting one hundred per cent fit players on the pitch.” The Frenchman seems to be so far away from that at the moment that he is now even receiving coaching in fitness and is not on the pitch with the team training. “He has been given a special programme to get up to the necessary level,” Letsch told WAZ on Tuesday and sees the responsibility with the player.

However, those responsible at VfL, at that time still around ex-sports director Sebastian Schindzielorz, were well aware that Mousset would first have to reach competition level after months without match practice and only individual training at home. But the team took the risk in the hope of having a player like Jürgen Locadia, who was on loan at Castroper Straße last season, in their own ranks. The fact that the road to this goal would be such a long one was certainly not taken into account.