Werder Bremen's Josh Sargent: “I want to score more goals now”
Werder Bremen’s USA international striker Josh Sargent is ready and raring to lead his side’s charge towards safety in the second half of the Bundesliga season, aiming “100 per cent” to score the goals that lead Werder out of trouble.
Florian Kohfeldt’s men go into the Rückrunde second-bottom in 16th place ahead of their resumption of league duties at fellow strugglers Fortuna Düsseldorf on Saturday.
And Sargent, who has two goals and two assists from six Bundesliga starts of the Hinrunde, is ready to shoulder the club’s goalscoring hopes as they bid for survival.
“I want to score more goals, 100 percent. It’s in my head,” Sargent told Weser-Kurier. “Werder is a strong club, we have a strong team. We will stick together, fight together and make it [to safety].”
Watch: Josh Sargent quickly becoming a Werder Bremen hero
The 19-year-old was a notable absence from the final four matchdays of the Hinrunde through hip injury, all of which Werder lost.
Now, however, the 12-cap USA centre-forward is back to full fitness and aiming to pick up where he left off, proving as much with a brace against Hannover in his side’s 3-1 win during the winter break.
“I feel very good and ready for the second half of the season,” he added. “I no longer feel the injury. I was out three weeks, completed my rehab program and walked a lot. The training camp on Mallorca was very good for me after that.”
Despite Sargent’s recent injury, he is only outscored by teammates Milot Rashica (seven) and Yuya Osaka (four). The American teenager explains that his role alongside the former has something of the Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston about it.
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“You always have to work with the player in the No10 position,” Sargent explained. “This is my job and I feel comfortable with it. It is only the first time that I am called "Bodyguard". The word is new, but the task is not. The goal is to take some pressure off Milot.”
Sargent was the recent recipient of high praise from none other than seven-time Bundesliga champions and both FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship winner Lothar Matthäus.
The Germany, Borussia Mönchengladbach and Bayern Munich legend said of Sargent: “For me, he’s not just a young player, but a top talent. His speed, robustness and finish in front of goal testify to his quality.”
And while acknowledging the confidence such platitudes give him, Sargent says he is solely focusing on the task at hand in Bremen.
“I try not to read that much,” said Sargent. “Of course, such positive feedback feels good. But you shouldn't listen too much to all the good things that are said and you shouldn't listen too much to all the bad things.
“I focus on myself and work hard. I know myself best and know whether I'm doing something well or not.”
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