“But he is 33”: Klopp leaves Füllkrug's Germany return open
Werder's striker is scoring week after week – the national coach is pleased but points to his age: in the long term it remains to be seen whether it works.
Archive image · Photo: Silesia711 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized)
Germany coach Jürgen Klopp was cautious about a return for Niclas Füllkrug to the national team. “Niclas Füllkrug is scoring one goal after another in the Bundesliga, but he is 33,” Klopp told DAZN on Wednesday evening, according to Sky Sport. “That's not my fault. In the long term we have to see whether that works.”
At the same time Klopp stressed: “It's possible, but for now I'm just happy that Niclas is back and scoring.” The 24-time international returned to Werder Bremen after his loan spell at West Ham United and, according to Sky, has scored seven times in seven competitive games, most recently twice against Paderborn.
Germany's record appearance-maker Lothar Matthäus recently made a public case for Füllkrug as an experienced impact substitute. The squad for the Nations League games in Serbia (13 November) and against the Netherlands (16 November) has yet to be named.