Deniz Undav & Jamie Leweling: VfB Stuttgart's unlikely strike partnership bearing fruit
Jamie Leweling was back in his familiar wing role as Stuttgart beat Frankfurt, but both he and Deniz Undav shone again in another superb attacking display that has made calls for their inclusion in Germany's World Cup squad even louder.
Having lost Germany international striker Nick Woltemade in the summer, Sebastian Hoeneß has had to make do without two key centre-forwards for large chunks of the 2025/26 campaign.
Deniz Undav was sidelined for over a month after suffering knee ligament damage against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 2, eventually making his comeback in a 3-0 win at Wolfsburg in mid-October.
Watch: VfB Stuttgart 3-2 Eintracht Frankfurt
By that point, Ermedin Demirović had been ruled out for the best part of three months after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his foot in a narrow victory at Heidenheim on Matchday 6.
However, with Demirović fit and scoring again as Stuttgart beat Eintracht Frankfurt on Matchday 17, things definitely seem to be falling into place in an attacking sense.
Hoeneß raised eyebrows by partnering Undav with Jamie Leweling - a winger by trade - at Bayer Leverkusen on Matchday 16, but it was a move that paid off in spectacular fashion as the Swabians cruised to a statement victory over their fellow European hopefuls.
Watch: Leweling and Undav dominate Leverkusen
Undav scored his ninth league goal of the campaign late in the first half in Leverkusen, and topped that up to ten against Frankfurt as Stuttgart started the new year with back-to-back wins.
Much to the head coach’s delight, both Leweling’s goals in the big win in Leverkusen were assisted by Undav, who threaded a perfect pass into the 24-year-old for the game’s seventh-minute opener before teeing up his fellow frontman for a spectacular effort from outside the box.
The former Brighton & Hove Albion striker has now outscored his goals tally of nine from last season, while Leweling’s first Bundesliga double - on his 100th competitive Stuttgart outing - means he has already surpassed his two-goal haul from 2024/25.
Having taken to the unfamiliar role like a duck to water, the Nuremberg native may well end up reprising his strike partnership with Undav, who feels Leweling is perfectly suited to a more central position.
“He’s physically strong and fast,” he said. “When he has a clear mindset, he’s difficult to defend against. He has everything you need - except for my technique!”
Watch: Leweling's best bits
Hoeneß was just as effusive in his praise for Leweling in his press conference before the Frankfurt game, telling the assembled journalists: “We’ve seen a different side to Jamie since the summer.
“He has fine-tuned a couple of things. We knew what was in his locker in terms of his ability - he’s shown that and it has earned him a place in the [Germany] national team - but he’s added consistency to that now.”
As for Undav, ten goals place him second to only Harry Kane in the Bundesliga’s 2025/26 goalscoring charts - a remarkable feat, given he missed four of the first six games through injury.
“Nothing surprises me with Deniz anymore,” Hoeneß said last month. “It was hugely important for us that he rediscovered his best form so quickly [after his injury]. We need his goals.”
Demirović’s scoring return - coupled with the recent arrival of young forward Jeremy Arévalo - may now cause a selection headache in the weeks to come.
It will be a welcome dilemma for Hoeneß, whose side are making a push for the top four with three wins in four either side of the winter break - as well as harbouring hopes of going deep into both the UEFA Europa League and DFB Cup.
More attacking fireworks courtesy of Undav and Leweling are to be expected when Stuttgart host Union Berlin on Sunday (kick-off 3.30pm CET).
Should the duo keep up their current form, there is a strong chance the whole world will get to know their talent at this summer's World Cup by forcing their way into Julian Nagelsmann's selection thinking. While Undav's chirpy character has been raised as a reason in favour of his inclusion, the striker himself said: "I don't want it to come down to good spirits, but to quality on the pitch. I think I have that."
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