Tim Kleindienst

Key strength: Link-up play

Target man

In a frustrating campaign for Borussia Mönchengladbach, who occupy an uninspiring 12th place with patchy form (WLWDD), 30-year-old German striker Tim Kleindienst is fighting to carve out his relevance. The €8m-rated centre-forward has made 3 appearances this season, clocking 270 minutes and contributing a single assist while still searching for his opening goal. Operating as a classic target man with a focus on link-up play, Kleindienst's selfless hold-up work creates opportunities for teammates even if the statistics don't yet sparkle. Wearing the number 11 shirt, he brings physical presence to a side struggling for consistency. At 30, Kleindienst is in his prime striker years—an experienced head in a squad that needs leadership. With Mönchengladbach's attacking woes reflected in their mid-table standing, the onus is on Kleindienst to translate his graft into goals. The coming fixtures could define whether this journeyman forward becomes the unlikely hero their season desperately needs.