'Huge talent' Linus Güther could become second-youngest debutant in Bundesliga history on Matchday 29
Just three days after turning 16, Union Berlin winger Linus Güther could become the second-youngest player to appear in the Bundesliga when his team visit Heidenheim on Saturday afternoon.
Güther, who joined Union from third-tier promotion hopefuls Energie Cottbus in the summer and turned 16 on Wednesday, was called up to train with the club’s first team during the recent international break - and has evidently left quite an impression on head coach Steffen Baumgart and his new his team-mates.
If he were to make an appearance this weekend, Güther would be the youngest player to feature in Germany’s top division since former Borussia Dortmund prodigy Youssoufa Moukoko broke the all-time record in November 2020 - a day after his 16th birthday.
Watch: Moukoko, the Bundesliga’s youngest-ever debutant
Baumgart, understandably, was keeping his cards close to his chest at Thursday’s pre-match press conference, but the Union boss admitted he has liked what he has seen from Güther thus far.
“He has shown what he can do with the ball,” Baumgart said. “He has quickly earned a lot of respect from the lads - you can see that. We’ll decide after our final training session on Friday whether he has done enough for a place in the squad.
“We have a huge talent in our ranks and need to be careful how we handle him. He has already earned the right to train with us, have lunch with the lads and to be recognised, which is a huge step in itself.
Güther has slotted seamlessly into Union’s youth ranks since his summer move from Cottbus, registering five goals and two assists in eight appearances for the club’s U17s. He has also turned out seven times for the Berlin outfit’s U19 side.
His record at international level is no less impressive. In nine appearances for Germany’s U16s, Günther has found the net seven times - including a hat-trick in an 8-2 friendly victory over Romania last October. He would have featured in Germany’s double-header against Italy last month but stayed back to train with Union’s first team.
The Spremberg native appears to have the world at his feet, but Union’s main focus for now - according to Baumgart - is on balancing Günther’s burgeoning football career with his education.
“That’s the first step towards his future, so we’ll see how we can integrate that,” Baumgart explained. “He already has a lot on his plate at the moment. We’ll find a way to make sure he can develop properly.
“If he stays fit, keeps his head down and continues to love football as much as he does at the moment, he can have a great career.
“For now, though, he is just a young lad who is really enjoying his football.”
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