By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- It doesn't take much for Marco Reus to turn into Superman.
In Borussia Dortmund's latest Christmas commercial, the forward is seen knitting pullovers for his teammates in his club's black and yellow colors. The message seems to be one of a caring footballer equipping himself with new dangerous weapons, a pair of knitting needles.
But the 29-year-old is not only the man of the moment for the team currently heading the Bundesliga, he is also a ray of hope for the struggling German national team and its under-fire coach Joachim Loew. Germany will face Russia in a friendly in Leipzig this Thursday before taking on the Netherlands in a crucial Nations League clash in Gelsenkirchen next Monday.
As the 58-year-old 2014 World Cup-winning coach is trying to rejuvenate his aging squad, Reus could turn into his key figure. Dortmund's star performer is the ideal man for the job as the team's new playmaker, following in the footsteps of Arsenal midfielder Mesut Ozil, who retired from international football after Germany's disappointing 2018 World Cup.
Loew is equally as happy as Dortmund coach Lucien Favre about Reus's brilliant form. However, doubts remain over forward's injury record, which is still a cause for concern.
Like 61-year-old Favre, Loew prefers Reus to play just behind the front line. "From there, he has all the options and is not burdened with defensive duties, in contrast to a role down the flanks," Loew explained.
But Loew hasn't forgotten Reus' chequered medical history. "He's an extraordinary player with unbelievable skills when he is fit," Loew emphasized, before adding, "We're keeping our fingers crossed he stays fit for the entire season. Then he is not only valuable for Dortmund but for us too."
Loew also hasn't forgotten Reus pulling out of Germany's games last October at short notice due to knee problems. From 2014 to 2018, the attacker was only able to play 74 of a possible 136 league games. His history of injuries reached a climax when he ruptured a cruciate ligament in May 2017. Before, Reus had missed the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 European Championships due to serious injuries.
In order to lead the German team back to winning ways, Loew needs to rely fully on a healthy leading figure. Without Reus, Loew could be forced to change his tactical approach, as the blond striker brings skills with him that no other German player can provide.
This might be the reason for Loew's cautious behavior. Reus opens up unimaginable opportunities when he is firing on all cylinders. He has not only scored eight league goals in eleven matches but is the key figure in Dortmund's high-speed football.
While Reus has developed into a true leader for his club side, a bigger challenge seems to be awaiting in the national team. It is hoped he can rescue Germany's Nations League campaign, as Die Mannschaft are in real danger of being relegated to Group B after two defeats against the Netherlands (3-0) and 2018 World Cup winners France (2-1).
"We need to keep an eye on the right amount of training intensity for him," Loew said. "I hope he has managed to cope well with the past few weeks of intense league and cup action."
For his part, Reus claims to be feeling better than ever.
Appointed as Dortmund's captain, rewarded with his favorite position behind the attacking line, awaiting his first child together with his wife Scarlett, Reus says he is going through a wonderful period. "I feel great and I'm ambitious," the 2017 German Cup winner commented. "I hope the dark hours now lie behind me," said the striker who has been capped only 36 times since 2011.
While Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Mark Uth (FC Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City) and Marc-Andre Ter Stegen (FC Barcelona) are missing from Loew's squad for the game against Russia, Reus appears raring to go and ready for a new chapter in his German international career.
