Serhou Guirassy: a striker in top form

Injury meant Guirassy had to wait until Matchday 3 to make his Dortmund debut, with a lively performance that may not have brought about an instant return in front of goal but did hint at what was to come as Heidenheim were brushed aside 4-2.

Five days later, the Guinea striker was on target, scoring his first goal for the club in a 3-0 UEFA Champions League win away to Club Brugge.

Guirassy has been rampant ever since and has now scored seven goals in his last seven games in black and yellow, to go with five in two appearances for his country during the recent international break.

In fact, since Guirassy returned to fitness, and including his blank against Heidenheim, only Bayern's Harry Kane (15 goals in 13 games for club and country) in Europe's top-five leagues has scored more for club and country than Guirassy's quite incredible 12 goals in nine appearances.

Watch: Guirassy delivers late winner against Pauli - highlights

Fellow Torjägerkanone rival Omar Marmoush (10 goals in 10 in all competitions with Eintracht Frankfurt), plus former regular Bundesliga top-scorer Robert Lewandowski (12 goals in 11 for Barcelona) are keeping pace with Dortmund's new number nine in a fascinating race.

Despite Guirassy's heft, it's not simply the sheer weight of his goals that are impressive.

The forward has consistently proven across his time in Germany to be a game-changer, with 35 of his 47 Bundesliga goals to-date either pulling his side within one goal of their opponents, drawing them level or putting them ahead.

This was evident last time out as his header proved the match-winner against St. Pauli. And while his first Bundesliga goal for Dortmund may have been a consolation in the 5-1 hammering at the hands of his old club Stuttgart, his brace against Bochum five days later made it 2-1 and then 3-2 in BVB's favour having trailed by after just 21 minutes.

Watch: Guirassy inspires comeback win over Bochum - highlights

He also won the penalty for Emre Can to make it 2-2 in that game, while his Champions League debut for Dortmund ended with a goal after Guirassy was introduced on the hour mark and with the score level at 0-0.

Guinea have keenly felt the Guirassy Effect, too.

Their Africa Cup of Nations qualification campaign got off to the worst possible start thanks to back-to-back defeats to Congo and Tanzania, without the 28-year-old.

That left them bottom of Group H and plenty of catching up to do, which they quickly did once Guirassy was back in the fold.

A hat-trick at home to Ethiopia and then a double against the same opponents three days later earned Guinea six points from a possible six, shooting them into second place.

Guirassy is suddenly the top scorer in qualifying, while his four goals in the Bundesliga have him rising up the top-flight rankings. players have scored more in the Bundesliga this term and Kane's is the sole name ahead of him on the 2024/25 Champions League top-scorer list.

It is in Europe's premier club competition that Guirassy next gets his chance to shine, going up against Real Madrid, the side who pipped Dortmund to the title last season.

Could Guirassy be the man to get Dortmund over the line this time around?