The Daily Bee (December 29, 2020): Haaland to Return in January, plus Steffen Tigges Could Join BVB First Team Permanently

Good morning, Fear The Wall!

Haaland Set To Return

Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc confirmed to the media today that forward Erling Haaland will return to the squad fully fit after missing the last month with a hamstring injury.

Photo by Alex Gottschalk/DeFodi Images via Getty Images

Haaland, who celebrates his first full year at Dortmund after arriving from RB Salzburg, has been one of the most important pieces for Dortmund this season. While he leads the team in scoring. Since his injury in December, Dortmund have struggled to find any creative spark against opponents. The lack of creation in offense, coupled with many other things, without Haaland on the pitch eventually led to the sacking of Lucien Favre.

I think I speak for a lot of people when I say that Haaland has become incredibly vital to the club since his arrival last season. Would Dortmund have been in a position to make a claim for the Bundesliga these last two seasons without him? Perhaps last season, but definitely not this season. Since his injury in December, Dortmund have struggled to find any creative spark against opponents and have only scored two or more goals twice. The lack of creation in offense without Haaland on the pitch, coupled with many other things, eventually led to the sacking of Lucien Favre.

Here’s to hoping he stays healthy and resumes banging in goals left and right.

Steffen Tigges to BVB First Team?

RevierSport reports that forward Steffen Tigges may soon be making a permanent move to the Dortmund first team after his positive performance against Eintracht Braunschweig in the DFB-Pokal. While I was unable to watch the Pokal match due to work, I went over the match highlights and I saw that Tigges was in a good position in offense, was willing and able to track back into defense, and was probably deserving of a goal in his senior debut.

More center forward depth can never be a bad thing. And I mean actual depth at center forward made up of center forwards, not putting players like Marco Reus or Thorgan Hazard at the position. Plus, Tigges, who has captained the BVB II squad this season, definitely looked like he belonged... even if it was against a 2. Bundesliga side.

While Tigges may not be that high on the center forward depth chart, I would still like to see him get some more meaningful minutes in a congested fixture schedule for BVB.

The Daily Buzz

How has everyone been doing this holiday season?