Cowley sizes up Germany’s second tier

DANNY Cowley has already stated that he and brother Nicky had been using the extra time on the hands during lockdown to deepen their knowledge of German football’s second tier.

The Huddersfield Town manager has been studying Bundesliga 2 footage in an attempt to see if any players could successfully make the transition into the English second tier.

Town have previously dipped into the German lower leagues with varying degrees of success under former manager David Wagner.

The likes of Chris Schindler, Michael Hefele, Chris Lowe, Florent Hadergjonaj and Elias Kachunga all featured heavily for Town after arriving from German football, the likes of Collin Quaner and Abdelhamid Sabiri less so.

Here’s five who have been shining in the Bundesliga 2 this season.

AT 22 striker Kleindienst fits the profile for Cowley, young, able to deliver at first team level with plenty of room for development.

Kleindienst has been in great form this season, the 6ft 3ins front man having netted 12 times in 22 games for fourth placed FC Heidenheim.

Six man of the match awards have arrived for Kleindienst in the 22 games he’s been involved in and his stats, according to whoscored. com, show he wins an average of 5.9 aerial duels per game, showcasing his aerial threat.

With Karlan Grant’s future up in the air and clubs likely to be keen to take him during the summer Cowley will no doubt have some alternative options at hand if the Terriers’ top scorer does depart.

ANOTHER tall striker who has been in good form this season, DR Congo international Ganvoula, 24, has netted 16 times in 28 games in all competitions for mid-table VfL Bochum.

Another player who relishes the aerial duels, something that Town have lacked in the final third this season, Ganvoula has had plenty of joy this season from outside the box, a powerful shot seeing him happy to try his luck from

distance.

Town have previously dipped into the German lower leagues with varying degrees of

success

TOWN have lacked creativity this season, certainly after losing Aaron Mooy and before the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe on loan from Arsenal.