Fit-again Jamal Musiala further augments Bayern Munich's array of attacking riches
On the face of it, Jamal Musiala’s long-awaited return from injury leaves Bayern Munich head coach Vincent Kompany with something of a selection headache.
After all, how on earth are you meant to accommodate Musiala when you already have Luis Díaz, Serge Gnabry, Lennart Karl and Michael Olise vying for the three attacking spots behind star striker Harry Kane?
It is an embarrassment of riches that is likely to have some of Europe’s biggest clubs casting envious glances in the direction of the Bavarian capital.
Watch: Musiala celebrates comeback with Bayern fans
But Bayern’s vast array of attacking talent is unlikely to cause Kompany many sleepless nights - even with Musiala’s aforementioned team-mates all enjoying magnificent seasons so far.
Summer signing Díaz and France international Olise have been in particularly scintillating form, racking up an astounding 27 goals and 28 assists between them in all competitions this term - including 19 and 22 respectively in the Bundesliga alone.
Their fitness record is no less impressive, with neither player missing a single game through injury this season. As Kompany succinctly put it in the build-up to Bayern’s 2-2 draw with Union Berlin in November, Díaz and Olise are “always fit”.
Watch: The new 'Robbery'?
In the same press conference, Kompany likened the emergence of 17-year-old Karl to a brand new signing in itself. Given the manner in which the teenage sensation has taken to life in Bayern’s first team, that is something of an understatement.
With around half the season left to play, Karl is already on the brink of reaching double figures for goals and assists in all competitions, despite only 13 of his 25 appearances being starts.
As well as being the youngest player to reach five Bundesliga goal involvements, Karl is also the youngest to score in three consecutive UEFA Champions League games, having found the net against Club Brugge, Arsenal and Sporting Lisbon in the competition’s league phase.
Watch: Karl emulates Arjen Robben
Then there is Gnabry, who registered three goals and as many assists in his first six Bundesliga appearances this season before injuries disrupted his fine start to the campaign.
The 30-year-old appears to be rediscovering his best form, however, having scored or assisted at least once in each of his last five appearances for the club.
His strike against Cologne on Matchday 17 - a shot from an impossible angle that bounced into the ground and over goalkeeper Marvin Schwäbe - had to be seen to be believed.
Watch: Gnabry's viral moment against Cologne
So where does that leave Musiala?
Nearly 200 days after suffering a broken leg and a dislocated ankle in Bayern’s Club World Cup quarter-final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, the 22-year-old marked his return to the fold with an assist - for Olise - in Saturday’s remarkable 5-1 victory over RB Leipzig.
It was his 30th assist for Bayern, lifting him on to 77 goal involvements in 140 appearances for the record German champions.
Musiala’s favoured position - the number ten role - is currently occupied by Gnabry, but the former Arsenal and Werder Bremen man has more than justified his selection in recent weeks.
After such a lengthy spell on the sidelines, Kompany will no doubt prefer to ease Musiala back into the fold, rather than place at risk of a relapse.
However the Belgian chooses to deploy the Stuttgart native in the coming weeks and months, Musiala’s return to fitness has come at an excellent time for a Bayern side flying high in all three competitions at the start of the new calendar year.
Already 11 points clear in the Bundesliga, Bayern occupy second place in the 36-team Champions League league phase, and have a home tie against Leipzig to look forward to in the quarter-finals of the DFB Cup.
Even by Bayern’s lofty standards, this could end up being a very memorable campaign for Kompany and his players. Musiala, one way or another, will have a huge role to play.
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