Werder Bremen are heavily reliant on Niclas Füllkrug this season. The 33-year-old striker, on loan from West Ham United, has scored 11 of the team's 20 goals in nine games and has been the key player in five comeback victories.
Füllkrug's current form is impressive, but it also raises questions. In the last week and a half, he was on the bench three times to manage his workload. Manager Daniel Thioune explained this approach after the match against Mainz. "We have to manage the load. That was the case today, and it was discussed that way," said Thioune. Füllkrug himself was substituted late in that game, suggesting fatigue.
His importance is clear in the numbers. In seven Bundesliga appearances, he has scored eight goals and is the team's clear top scorer. In recent matches against Borussia Dortmund and Mainz 05, he scored twice in each. In the 3-2 win in Mainz, he scored two penalties; in the 2-3 defeat in Dortmund last weekend, he equalised with a spot-kick and another goal. These performances are key for Werder's current league position. The team sits sixth in the Bundesliga table with 12 points from seven games.
The reliance on a player not owned by the club carries risks. Füllkrug's loan deal does not include an option to buy, and his contract with West Ham United runs until 2026. When asked about his future, the striker replied tersely: "Nee, da reden wir jetzt nicht drüber" (No, we're not talking about that now). This situation presents Werder with a strategic dilemma, especially given the player's age and injury-prone status.
The immediate focus is on the next fixture. Werder host 10th-placed 1899 Hoffenheim on October 31st. A win would be important to stay in the upper half of the table and not let the five-point gap to leaders Bayern Munich grow. The team aims to continue the positive momentum from recent weeks, which included a 3-2 win against Augsburg and a 2-2 draw with Paderborn. The full fixtures list shows a challenging period in November.
Werder face the challenge of making the most of their loan striker's exceptional form while simultaneously crafting long-term plans for the attack. The coming weeks will show how sustainable success can be without a permanent solution to the Füllkrug question.
This story first appeared at butenunbinnen.de
