 He competed with the team in the season's UEFA Europa League, making eight appearances in all; on 19 September he scored from Tranquillo Barnetta's corner kick in a 3–0 group stage home win over FC Girondins de Bordeaux.In May 2016, Russ took a routine anti-doping test which showed high levels of the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which can be produced either by anabolic steroids or cancer.After consulting a doctor on the 18th, it was confirmed that he had a malignant tumour.