Bundesliga
USA international forward Josh Sargent has taken his game to the next level in recent months, according to Werder Bremen head coach Florian Kohfeldt.
Sargent scored two goals in 10 Bundesliga appearances last season, but made only one start after opening his account with his first touch on his top-flight debut. This term, however, the 19-year-old has already begun four of Werder's seven league outings - including the last three in a row - and has registered one goal and an assist.
"Josh is now at a level where other clubs are looking at him," said Kohfeldt. "Take the game against Frankfurt as an example: Josh didn't have the best game overall, but there was one bit of play that was just unbelievable and was decisive to the first goal. The run he made was top. [His solo goal] against Augsburg forced the opposition to come out and react, too."
Watch: Josh Sargent is making a name for himself in the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen
Sargent underlined his strong start to the season with a goal - his third in 11 senior caps - in the USA's 7-0 drubbing of Cuba in the CONCACAF Nations League during the October international break, but Kohfeldt knows there is still room for improvement.
"Josh has to work on performing to a high level on a consistent basis," the Bremen boss explained. "He needs to be more effective in games. That means not just having one, two or three good moments in a game, but ideally seven to ten."
Despite only returning to Germany in midweek following his country's 2-0 defeat to Canada in Nations League qualifying, Sargent is in line to make the 17th appearance of his Bundesliga career - and potentially his sixth start - when Bremen host Hertha Berlin on Matchday 8.
"I have no qualms playing him, as long as he's awake," joked Kohfeldt.