Lech Poznań are set for a gruelling schedule of nine matches in a single month, a period that will test the squad's depth. Manager Niels Frederiksen confirmed that key forward Allahyar Sayyadmanesh will be sidelined for approximately four weeks due to injury.

Between 10 October and 8 November, Lech will play nine official fixtures. The run includes five Ekstraklasa matches, three UEFA Europa League games, and one Polish Cup 1/16 final tie. This is the only such intense block in the current season, featuring two more matches than in the comparable period last campaign.

Key player injury blow

The situation with Allahyar Sayyadmanesh is serious. “He is out due to a biceps femoris muscle injury. We don't know how long he will be out.” said Niels Frederiksen. The Iranian, who has five goals in eight appearances and is the team's top scorer this season, will miss key fixtures against Bayer Leverkusen, Benfica, and the derby with Legia Warsaw.

Lech Poznań enter this demanding period sitting third in the Ekstraklasa with 19 points from eight games. This is one point more than they had after ten matches following last season's October international break. Up first is a tough away trip to 15th-placed Śląsk Wrocław, with the full upcoming schedule available on our fixtures page.

Preparations and squad status

During the first week of the international break, most of the squad rested while eight players joined their national teams. The team returned to full training and played a friendly against Energie Cottbus last week, which ended in a 2-2 draw. “Mateusz Lis did not play today because we wanted to give Mateusz Pruchniewski a chance. I think our backup goalkeeper did well,” Frederiksen assessed after that match.

Beyond Sayyadmanesh, questions remain over Joao Moutinho, who has played only two matches since March and is dealing with injuries. His contract expires at the end of the season. Also in recovery are Antoni Kozubal and Gustav Berggren, with Kozubal having a chance to be ready for Saturday. The squad list status, including the injury list, can be found on the squad page.

The coming month will require Lech Poznań to utilise the entire squad to its maximum. The first test comes on Saturday at Tarczyński Arena in Wrocław, kicking off this exhausting marathon.

Read the full report at Lech Poznan.pl