BORUSSIA DORTMUND BOSS Lucien Favre has urged caution despite the remarkable form of teen sensation Erling Haaland.
The 19-year-old, a rumoured Man United target before joining Dortmund in the most recent transfer window, has been in scintillating form since making the move to the Bundesliga outfit from RB Salzburg.
The youngster scored his eighth goal in four games (three of which were from the bench) in Tuesday’s 3-2 DFB Pokal loss against Werder Bremen.
But despite the Norway international’s terrific recent form, Favre has emphasised the need to manage his player’s game time.
“As I said, I am the first one to [know whether to] let him play from the beginning,” he said.
“You don’t know his fitness like I do. So, we have to be careful. We have to be reasonable.
“Of course, I would like to let him play all games, but we still have to be careful with him sometimes.
He is 19 years old and I speak about the pre-season and old injuries. We have to be reasonable.”
Favre’s hand might be forced, however, given his forward line will be without Marco Reus when they travel to face Bayer Leverkusen this weekend.
“Unfortunately, Marco is injured now. It happened in the last minute. I am very sorry for him,” said Favre, with his captain set for a four-week spell on the sidelines due to a muscular complaint that will cause him to miss the Champions League showdown with Paris Saint-Germain on 18 February.
“But Marco is still very important and will be important for the team. There are several options how to replace him, but it depends on the system. Today it’s still not decided.”
Emre Can, a deadline-day arrival on an initial loan from Juventus, made a substitute cameo against Werder and could make his league debut for Dortmund against old employers Leverkusen.
“We have to see him in training, how he feels. He did not play a lot [at Juventus this season],” Favre added.
“He made a good impression yesterday. The training was very long and intense. He did very well.
“He has to show in training what he is able to do. We know he can play as a defender with a back three but also in the midfield as six or eight, also in a 4-3-3.
“We will see because right now I cannot tell you exactly.”
Additional reporting by Omni
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Well done. Hopefully they can retain the Koh Samui cup this summer
@Luke: absolute horseplay
@Niall Boyle: absolutely sending it!
Would be very disappointed if 6 of the Blackrock squad aren’t capped by Ireland this summer
@Niall Boyle: and you’ll be begging for the other 9 players
@Niall Boyle: bit early for that under 20s first i would of taught
@SEAN: expect a solicitors letter for a derogatory comment like that
Tremendous game, albeit defence-dominated, well worth a watch by those who can. Munster fans would enjoy another top performance by Michael O’Sullivan, the Blackrock openside
@Kevin Ryan: agreed. I thought that lad was excellent. Is he a Munster kid?
@Jack Kirwan: From Kerry apparently, and definitely in the Munster system. So, for example, played for Munster against Leinster in the U19 interpro last August
Just get into leinster academy and be capped by capped by ireland within 2 years
Shame it was in Tallaght can’t believe people actually live in that kip. Still serious horseplay with the lads.