"I can't imagine a starting XI without Josh Sargent" - Kohfeldt

Sargent played an integral role at the business end of 2019/20, scoring his fourth goal in 28 appearances on the final day of the regulation season as Bremen thrashed Cologne 6-1 to move out of the automatic relegation places and into the play-offs.

The 20-year-old was a second-half substitute in the goalless first leg with Bundesliga 2 outfit Heidenheim, but justified his inclusion in the starting line-up for the return fixture by producing the assist for the opening goal. The contest ended 2-2, with Werder clinging onto their Bundesliga status thanks to the away-goals rule.

Sargent's performances in recent pre-season friendly wins over Groningen and St. Pauli have cemented his place in Kohfeldt's immediate plans.

"Right now, I can't imagine a starting XI that doesn't include Josh Sargent," enthused the Bremen tactician. "For me, he's in pole position for the opening weekend of the season."

With Bremen’s 2018/19 and 2019/20 top scorer Milot Rashica expected to be given regular minutes, a spot alongside the Kosovan in attack looks to be Sargent's - despite competition from Niclas Füllkrug, Davie Selke, Johannes Eggestein and Yuya Osako.

"The combination of his strength, physicality, work off the ball, his improved tactical understanding and positional flexibility - it all speaks volumes for him as a player," elaborated Kohfeldt.

"He brings a lot to the table. He can play wide or as the central striker in a 4-3-3, and he can play as a second striker in a 4-4-2. He showed real progress during the end of last season.

"I just want to say: Josh is no longer the contender."

Kohfeldt is well placed to judge Sargent's development, having overseen his transition from the IMG academy in Florida to the Bremen first team, via a seven-goal stint with the reserves in Germany's fourth tier.

Since scoring with his first touch on his Bundesliga debut in a match with Fortuna Düsseldorf on 12 December 2018, the Missouri native has featured in over 40 first-team matches for Die Grün-Weißen, registering six goals and as many assists.

He has also become a regular on the international scene, hitting five goals - including another debut effort, against Bolivia - in 12 appearances for the USMNT.

Watch: Josh Sargent's rise at Werder Bremen

The 2020/21 season will be Sargent's second full campaign of senior club football, and begins in earnest on 12 September with a trip to Carl Zeiss Jena in the DFB Cup first round.