Rookie of the Month nominee: Wolfsburg's Divock Origi
Wolfsburg knew they were getting their hands on a rough diamond when Divock Origi signed on loan from Liverpool in the summer, and after an excellent start at the Volkswagen Arena the Belgium striker is really beginning to sparkle.
There was a palpable sense of excitement when the Wolves managed to lure Origi away from Anfield on the final day of the summer transfer window, with the club's sporting director Olaf Rebbe delighted to have brought one of Europe's brightest attacking prospects to Lower Saxony.
"We've really strengthened our forward line with Divock Origi," Rebbe said back in August. "He has shown his abilities at club and international level, and has tremendous experience for a player of his age. He's quick, dangerous, and can beat his man in one-on-one situations. He'll make us more unpredictable up top."
Watch: Origi loving life in the Bundesliga
It didn't take long for the 22-year-old to start proving Rebbe right. On Matchday 5 he scored his first goal for the Wolves in a 1-1 draw with Werder Bremen, before helping his side come from two goals down to grab a 2-2 draw with champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena.
But it is since the international break in October that Origi has really begun to slip through the gears, with a sizzling run of three goals and one assist in four Bundesliga outings. With four goals in 12 appearances, he is now Wolfsburg's second-highest scorer this season behind Daniel Didavi.
"Divock is showing he's already at home in the Bundesliga," said coach Martin Schmidt ahead of the six-goal thriller with Hertha Berlin on Matchday 11, in which Origi scored one and set up another. "He's set a benchmark with his goals so far, and if he keeps it up he can reach 10 or 12."
Origi has been named in the starting line-up for 10 of his 12 appearances this term, and on one one of the two occasions where he came off the bench - against Schalke on Matchday 10 - he made a significant impact, scoring a 93rd-minute equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw and extend Wolfsburg's unbeaten run to six games.
Watch: Origi snatched a point for Wolfsburg with a late strike against the Royal Blues
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After netting 21 goals in 77 appearances for Liverpool, the Belgian was loaned out to Wolfsburg in order to earn regular game time and sharpen up his finishing, and so far the plan is proceeding admirably. In fact, Origi appears to be enjoying himself so much in Germany that he has hinted at the possibility of making his loan deal permanent next summer.
"I feel very comfortable here," he told Bild in a recent interview. "This is a great club, I'm happy, and I can grow and develop here. Everything is possible in football."
Origi also confirmed that Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp had "not contacted [him] lately", although the former Mainz and Borussia Dortmund boss - who knows the Bundesliga like the back of his hand - will surely be keeping an eye on his loaned-out striker from afar.
"We will talk about how we might continue with Divock nearer the summer," Rebbe declared. "At just 22 he is already an extraordinary striker, and showing off his great qualities here with us."
If Origi keeps up his excellent form in the Bundesliga, he looks all but guaranteed a spot in Roberto Martinez's squad for next summer's FIFA World Cup, four years after announcing himself on the biggest stage of them all with a memorable late winner against Russia in the group stage in Brazil.
Andy Smith