"And then, in my view, age doesn't matter either," Daniel Thioune told SPORT1, in comments translated from German. It is a strong public push for Niclas Füllkrug, whose six goals in six Bundesliga games have dragged him back into the Germany discussion. Jürgen Klopp has not committed to a recall, but he has not closed the door either.

Thioune's case is simple enough on the football side. Füllkrug is scoring again, and Werder Bremen are getting the benefit. The striker also has 8 goals in 7 appearances across all competitions, with 567 league minutes behind that start.

Thioune's case for a recall

Thioune, quoted by SPORT1 in translation, said: "We all know that Niclas stands ready at a moment's notice. I would also not be annoyed if he finds his place in the national team again, in whatever role."

That part matters because the argument is not built around a guaranteed starting place. Thioune is talking about a return in any role, which fits where Füllkrug is in his career and where Germany may need depth.

The scoring form is the obvious reason the debate has reopened. The source reporting around Thioune frames it as six goals in six Bundesliga games, while the wider verified total stands at 8 in 7 appearances overall. Either way, the trend is the same: Füllkrug has started the 2026 campaign well and forced his name back into the conversation.

Werder have also made a solid opening to the league season. They sit 6th with 12 points from 7 matches, and Füllkrug's output is a big part of that. Bremen are not running away with games either, with a goal difference of 1, so his finishing has real weight in tight matches.

Saturday gives him another chance to keep the case moving. Werder are away at FSV Mainz 05 at 15.30, and Mainz have already conceded 14 league goals in 7 matches.

Klopp's open door, with a caveat

Klopp, quoted in German by SPORT1, said: "Niclas Füllkrug is scoring goal after another in the Bundesliga - but he is 33. That is not my fault."

That line lands because it captures both sides of the debate without pretending they carry the same weight. The age point is real, but international selection is about who can help now as well as who might still be around in three years.

Klopp made that split clear in a second comment to SPORT1, also translated from German: "We have a present, a medium-term future and a long-term future. In the present, of course, that can work, possibly in the medium term too, in the long term we will have to see."

That feels like the sensible reading of where Füllkrug stands. Klopp is not selling a long project here. He is leaving room for a short-term or medium-term role if the form holds.

Füllkrug last appeared for Germany in the UEFA Nations League third-place match against France in June 2025. His route back has not come out of nowhere either. Before this latest run, he had already shown he could keep scoring after his time at SC Paderborn 07, and the current start has given Thioune a fresh argument to make in public.

Klopp even widened the age discussion with another SPORT1 quote, again translated from German: "Lionel Messi has just played a World Cup at 39, so it is possible."

Nobody is claiming a recall is certain, and Klopp plainly is not. But six goals in six Bundesliga games, plus 8 in 7 appearances overall, is more than enough to keep Füllkrug in the frame before Werder's trip to Mainz on Saturday.

FAQ

Will Niclas Füllkrug return to the Germany squad soon?

A return is being pushed publicly, but it is not certain. Daniel Thioune wants Niclas Füllkrug back in the Germany conversation after his six-goal Bundesliga start, and Jürgen Klopp has not ruled it out. Klopp's comments suggest Füllkrug can still help in the present, while leaving the longer-term place open.

Why is Daniel Thioune backing Niclas Füllkrug for Germany?

Thioune's case is built on form and readiness. He said age should not matter and argued that Füllkrug is ready to step in at short notice. The striker has six goals in six Bundesliga games, while the broader verified total stands at 8 goals in 7 appearances across all competitions.

What did Jürgen Klopp say about Niclas Füllkrug's age?

Klopp praised the scoring run but made clear that age is part of the discussion. He said Füllkrug is scoring freely in the Bundesliga, but noted that he is 33. Klopp also said the striker could work for Germany in the present, possibly in the medium term, while the long-term view remains undecided.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →