“I love this player” – Nuri Şahin heaps praise on Belgian prodigy Julien Duranville | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund’s Julian Duranville made his debut for the Belgian national team over the last international break, exciting fans in the 23 minutes he played across games against Israel and France.

Yet to feature for Dortmund in the Bundesliga this season, Duranville is now giving Nuri Şahin a selection headache as clubs prepare for the return of domestic football.

“After the international matches I’m now under pressure, now I have to let him play,” laughed Şahin at Wednesday’s press conference. “I’ve watched the sequences and that’s exactly what we’re hoping for.

“I don’t want to be a handbrake. If he stays healthy, he’ll be a very important player for Borussia Dortmund. I love this player. He’s also making great strides.”

READ | Nuri Şahin offers squad update ahead of Heidenheim clash

Borussia Dortmund host Bundesliga leaders Heidenheim on Friday night but will be without Gio Reyna and Nico Schlotterbeck. Duranville remains an exciting option from the bench, while Serhou Guirassy and Yan Couto could make their Bundesliga debuts for their new club. Karim Adeyemi is also in excellent form after scoring a hat-trick for Germany’s U21s against Israel.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder