“Many had already written him off” – Völler reflects on Füllkrug's unlikely Germany return
Rudi Völler has praised Niclas Füllkrug's resurgence after the striker fought his way back into the Germany squad.
Bundesliga · Germany
After a difficult, injury-plagued spell abroad with West Ham United and AC Milan, Niclas Füllkrug has rediscovered his best form following his loan return to Werder Bremen. His nine goals have taken him to the top of the Bundesliga scoring charts.
That revival has earned the striker a Germany recall for the upcoming fixtures against Serbia and the Netherlands, more than a year after his last international appearance.
Speaking on DAZN's “Never Talk Alone” show, Germany sporting director Rudi Völler admitted that few would have predicted such a return just six months ago.
“Even if you think you've been out of the picture for a while, performances are ultimately what count.”
“I don't think anyone would have expected him to return to the national team just six months ago. Many had already written him off. He moved to West Ham, where things didn't work out, and was then loaned to AC Milan, where things didn't go well either. He barely scored any goals and didn't get much playing time,” Völler said.
“Then he returned to his Werder family, to the Werder family environment, where he feels completely at home, and started scoring goal after goal. So anything is possible.”
Fitness before age
Völler also drew on his own playing career, stressing that fitness matters far more than age when it comes to continuing at international level.
“The most important thing for him, just as it was for me back then, is to stay free from injuries. You get the feeling that he is in a good place at the moment, and he deserves to be back here. Ultimately, fitness is what matters. Age itself is not the decisive factor. It comes down to how fit you are, how well you feel, how you can train and whether you can stay clear of injuries,” he said.
“I played at the same stage of my career many, many years ago. I was still playing at the World Cup in the USA at the age of 34 in 1994, so it is certainly possible. I was still in top shape and went on to play for Bayer Leverkusen for another two years. It can be done. As I said, the most important thing is to avoid injuries.”
