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Borussia Dortmund attacker Marco Reus will be absent for Thursday's Europa League meeting with Odd Grenland to avoid playing on the host's plastic pitch. Reus, 26, will not be risked on the artificial surface against Dortmund's Norwegian opponents in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. Head coach Thomas Tuchel said at his prematch news conference on Wednesday: "It was our choice to rest Marco. It's a precautionary measure from experience." Right-back Lukasz Piszczek will also be missing amid fears he suffered a serious hip injury in training. Meanwhile, Dortmund have no plans to allow Kevin Grosskreutz to leave on a free transfer Grosskreutz, 27, has become surplus to requirements under new coach Tuchel following several injuries last season. He has not been named into Borussia's squad for Thursday's match, and, earlier this week, was linked with domestic rivals Eintracht Frankfurt, who confirmed informal talks with the player's agent. However, their hopes of landing the versatile midfielder on a free transfer were dashed by CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke. He said: "Every club in the world should know: When you want to sign a Borussia Dortmund player, and that's totally legitimate, you are dreaming when you believe to sign them on a free. This won't happen."
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