Rückrunde Ones to Watch: Salomon Kalou
Berlin - Having registered just five goals in 13 appearances for Hertha Berlin during the first half of the Bundesliga season, it would be fair to say that former Chelsea FC striker has endured some teething problems as he adapts to life in the Bundesliga.
Keen to 'get started'
Yet the 29-year-old, currently in Equatorial Guinea representing Cote d'Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations, is eager to make amends when he returns to the German capital.
Kalou joined Hertha in summer 2014 from LOSC Lille, having previously won the UEFA Champions League with Chelsea, but was forced to spend more time on the bench than he would have liked as the winter break approached. Indeed, he only played the full 90 minutes on four occasions and did not even take to the field on Matchdays 15 and 16.
That return has left Kalou frustrated but also with the sense of having a score to settle. "I came to Berlin to achieve something […] and I really want to get started here," he said shortly before Christmas. And the signs are there that that is precisely what Kalou could do in the second half of the season.
Prolific in France
After all, he is Hertha's second-top scorer behind this term, and the Ivorian has previously shown that he has a keen eye for goal. Kalou found the back of the net 16 times for Lille last season - a tally only beaten by Paris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic in Ligue 1.
Hertha could also benefit from Kalou's versatility. He is able to play on either flank or as a traditional centre forward, although he prefers to play on the left as this enables him to cut inside and shoot with his stronger right foot.
Getting in the practice
Furthermore, Kalou is an accomplished penalty-taker, as he has demonstrated twice already in 2014/15. On Matchday 14 he converted from the spot against Borusssia Mönchengladbach after being fouled in the area, and also helped the Old Lady to three points with a penalty against VfB Stuttgart on Matchday 7.
Looked at from a different perspective, if Kalou managed to score five times despite being fielded intermittently for Hertha, imagine what he could do when he returns from the African continent's biggest international tournament having been given the match practice he needs to get into his groove. The Olympiastadion faithful, and Bundesliga enthusiasts everywhere, await with bated breath.
