Tottenham Hotspur were linked with Hoffenheim striker Mark Uth in January – and now he’s in the form of his life in the Bundesliga.
As Tottenham Hotspur will tell you, the Eredivisie does not provide an accurate barometer of a striker’s quality. Yes, we’re talking about you, Vincent Janssen.
Yet, there was always something special about Mark Uth. While Janssen was a goalscorer, pure and simple, Uth combined clinical finishing with excellent movement, clever inter-play and the vision of a natural number ten.
Though the goals helped as well, Uth netting 20 in 37 games for Heerenveen in 2014/15 to earn a chance to step up to the Bundesliga with Hoffenheim. And, after two decent seasons in one of the top flight’s most attractive clubs, Uth has started the 2017/18 campaign like a man possessed.
If brilliantly taken goals in each leg of last month’s Champions League qualifier with Liverpool wasn’t enough, Uth’s match-winning double against Bayern Munich on Saturday feel like a real watershed moment for the 26-year-old during a World Cup year in which Germany coach Joachim Low is looking for alternative striking options.
Hoffenheim’s 2-0 win over the Bundesliga champions was well-deserved, Uth finishing clinically on two occasions to take his tally to five in six in all competitions this season.
Therefore, if Tottenham were concerned about Uth’s ability to step up and play at a higher level, four goals against Liverpool and Bayern should prove beyond doubt that he is not merely another Janssen.
The Mirror reported in January that both Spurs and Southampton were tracking the forward and the fact that Uth is out of contract next summer should not go unnoticed.
There was no doubting Uth’s talent back then but, eight months on, the in-form striker looks to be on the verge of an explosion.
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