Dortmund fell to a 2-1 home defeat to Stuttgart on Saturday, losing more ground on the Bundesliga's top four as they now sit in 11th, six points behind their opponents.

Niko Kovac will name his first eleven as Borussia Dortmund head coach when they host Stuttgart at the Signal Iduna Park in the Bundesliga on Saturday afternoon. Two players he will have to do without

Kovac is set to take over the reins from interim boss Mike Tullberg, who took charge of three matches following Nuri Şahin’s dismissal last month. Tullberg started his temporary spell with a 2-2 draw against Werder Bremen, before he oversaw victories over Shakhtar Donetsk and Heidenheim in the Champions League and Bundesliga respectively.