Mainz 05's recent momentum has hit a snag with the news that key midfielder Jae-sung Lee will be sidelined for several weeks. The South Korean international missed the club's important 2-0 Conference League victory over Racing Strasbourg on Thursday, and sporting director Niko Bungert has now confirmed the reason: a small fracture in Lee's toe.

While providing a recovery timeline is tricky with such injuries, Bungert offered a glimmer of hope to fans, stating there is "initial small hope that he might be able to return in about three weeks." This timeline suggests Lee could miss a crucial stretch of Bundesliga matches as Mainz battles to climb the table.

In his absence, the spotlight now turns to Sota Kawasaki. The Japanese midfielder, who stepped into the lineup against Strasbourg, is likely to be given another opportunity to impress when Mainz faces Freiburg this Sunday. Lee's energy and creativity in the center of the park will be a significant loss, testing the squad's depth as they compete on both domestic and European fronts.