Who will replace Erling Haaland in attack for Borussia Dortmund?

Dortmund have lost prolific strikers before now - see Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal - but this time injury has shorn them of their primary goal-threat. bundesliga.com examines the alternatives at the disposal of head coach Lucien Favre...

1) Plan A: Marco Reus

In the 1-1 draw with Lazio in the UEFA Champions League in midweek, Favre opted for a makeshift forward line of captain Marco Reus and Thorgan Hazard, with USA teenager Gio Reyna milling about in a supporting role. The BVB tactician also made use of Julian Brandt and Jadon Sancho in the second half. All five can be electric on their day, but none snuggly fit into the thoroughbred striker category.

Reus has had a hand in 18 goals in his 16 appearances as part of a front two and, while statistically at his most effective with a centre-forward to bounce ideas off, was the most advanced of the bunch against Lazio. With 132 Bundesliga goals for Dortmund, including double figures in each of the last two campaigns alone, it's little wonder the Germany playmaker is Favre's preference to fill the shoes of Haaland.

Watch: Reus under the tactical microscope

2) Plan B: Reus, plus Thorgan Hazard, Jadon Sancho and Julian Brandt

The next most likely solution is that two players, not one, will replace Haaland.

Like Reus, Hazard tends to do his best work in his preferred role on the flanks. All three of his goals in 2020/21 have come from such a position, as well as one of his two assists. His other fell in the 1-1 draw with Lazio on Champions League Matchday 5, when he lined up alongside Reus in attack. His previous four league outings as one half of a strike duo have yielded two goals compared to the 33-minute blank in his only league outing as a false nine.

Sancho - another dyed-in-the-wool winger - is yet to be trialed as a lone striker, but has thrived in a freer role as part of a two-man attack. He scored his only Bundesliga hat-trick to date on Matchday 29 of last season playing right up front, and set up one of two Haaland goals in the 3-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 1 of the current campaign. While the England international has the pace to match Haaland's bulldozing runs from deep, he is five inches shorter than Dortmund's trusted No.9, at 5'11" - the same height as Reus. The style might be different, but Favre could be tempted to lean on a player that has produced double figures for goals and assists for two seasons running, albeit predominantly from out wide.

There is potentially a touch more wiggle room where Brandt is concerned, however. The Germany international breaks the six-foot barrier and has already made five appearances in the Haaland role, including in this season's 2-0 win at promoted Arminia Bielefeld. That said, he was unable to effect the game in a manner befitting a striker, despite putting in more miles than any other player. A further three games minus goal involvement as part of a front two fuel the idea that Brandt needs a target man to truly spark. His eight goals and 14 assists in a Dortmund shirt are spread over outings in various midfield roles, after all.

3) Plan C: Youssoufa Moukoko

Little over a month ago, all roads would have pointed to a cluster of attacking midfielders - some of the best takers and makers in the business no less - moonlighting as false nines. But that was before Youssoufa Moukoko fired his way into first-team contention.

The Germany U20 international made his Bundesliga debut 24 hours after turning 16, entering the fray in the wake of Haaland's four-goal blitz of Hertha Berlin on Matchday 8. Reward for his 141 goals in 88 outings at youth level, it was also a milestone moment with more than just a hint of prophetic significance.

"Youssoufa is much better than I was at his age," Haaland said afterwards. "I think he's the biggest talent in the world right now. He's 16 years and one day old, that's amazing. He has a big career ahead of him. We're lucky to have him."

Watch: Moukoko, the Bundesliga's youngest debutant

Favre and sporting director Michael Zorc have quite rightly urged caution on the subject of throwing the teenager in too deep, too soon. Had he not spent his youth ruffling the feathers of aspiring professionals two to four years his senior, the Cameroon-born forward would probably be eagerly awaiting the Christmas high-school holidays right about now. In his words: "I can't help being good at football. The one who works harder gets rewarded in the end."

The pay-off could come much sooner than expected. Although Moukoko lacks top-level experience, he is a bona-fide striker. A robust, left-sided and prolific one at that. Cautious excitement abounds ahead of a possible stint in the shoes of Haaland, but what magnificent company he has in the final third.