Arsenal loanee Karl Hein has dropped back to the bench for Werder Bremen over the last week, despite keeping a clean sheet in his last appearance.
After making two encouraging appearances for Werder Bremen in late September and early October, Arsenal loanee Karl Hein has since returned to the bench in favour of Mio Backhaus.
Hein had impressed in Backhaus’ injury absence, making a number of great saves despite a heavy defeat away to Bayern Munich before keeping a clean sheet in his first home game against St. Pauli.
The goalkeeper then played a couple of games for Estonia over the international break, saving a penalty against Italy. But he returned to find Backhaus back in the lineup in the 2-2 against FC Heidenheim, and the same goalkeeper subsequently started on Friday against Union Berlin.
Unfortunately, this isn’t an unexpected turn of events. Despite praising Hein’s performances, Werder Bremen boss Horst Steffen has always been clear that he considers Backhaus to be his first-choice goalkeeper.
“It remains the case that Mio is our number one,” Steffen said after the St. Pauli game. “But I rate Karl’s performance as good again today.”
Backhaus had to earn his own spot in the Werder Bremen starting lineup, spending the entirety of last season on the bench behind Michael Zetterer, who subsequently left for Eintracht Frankfurt.
Perhaps Steffen feels it would be harsh on the 21-year-old if he dropped back to the bench so quickly for a loanee.
Yet it does raise the question of what Hein can possibly do to earn minutes this season.
If even a good period of form is rewarded with a return to the bench, and if the 12 goals Backhaus conceded in his first five appearances weren’t enough to see him dropped on Friday, then Hein’s only hope of regular starts is a lengthy suspension or injury to the Germany u21 international.
Loan moves are always difficult for goalkeepers, because there’s only one spot in the lineup, and you rarely make substitute appearances. The early signs suggest Hein is going to have to show plenty of patience this season.