by Lee Hurley

Lukas Podolski has admitted that he is currently suffering from a self-confidence problem.

Enduring what can only be described as a ‘difficult’ season, the German was shipped out on loan after slipping down the pecking order at Arsenal only to find himself benched for most of his time in Italy.

Coming on as a second-half substitute for the world champions against USA in Cologne, there were even boos for their favourite son when he miscontrolled a pass – something that would have seemed unthinkable not that long ago.

“In one or other situation I lack self-confidence, because I have not always played,” Podolski told the media in Germany.

“If you do not have this rhythm, it is difficult to get top performance,” he continued.

He makes a good point – players frequently demonstrate how hard it is to shine when they are only getting a few minutes here and there but he also needs to look at his own contribution on the pitch which is a significant factor in why he isn’t being selected.

So what does the future hold for Polid? It’s not clear, but Joachim Loew believes he needs to get it sorted.

“He now needs to talk to Arsene Wenger, to see what his plans are,” Loew said after the defeat to the US. “Otherwise I can only seriously advise him to consider making a change.

“He has not played so often in the past season on 90 minutes. It would be important for him. He is a type of player who thrives on the pitch, the rhythm and the tempo. It would be desirable for all of them.”