Nuri Sahin backs Donyell Malen to play an important role at Borussia Dortmund this season

Nuri Sahin is confident that Donyell Malen will play an important role for Borussia Dortmund this season despite uncertainty surrounding his future at the club.

Donyell Malen has been linked with a move away from Borussia Dortmund on a number of occasions over the last 12 months, but nothing has materialised so far. It now looks increasingly likely that the Dutchman will stay at BVB beyond the summer transfer window. And Nuri Sahin is backing Malen to play a key role for his side this season.

Nuri Sahin hails Donyell Malen's directness

During his press conference ahead of Borussia Dortmund's Bundesliga opener against Eintracht Frankfurt, Sahin praised Malen's directness and goalscoring ability. "He had a minor injury when he came back from the Euros. It wasn't so easy for him on the pitch as a result. But he's a special player and will continue to score goals for us this year. I like his directness. He will be very, very important for us."

Signed from PSV Eindhoven in 2021 to replace Jadon Sancho, Malen has enjoyed several strong bursts of form at Borussia Dortmund. But he has also struggled to maintain his consistency over an extended period.

Despite that, the 25 year old finished last season as BVB's joint-top scorer (alongside Niclas Füllkrug) with 15 goals to his name across all competitions. Overall, Malen has 34 goals and 19 assists in 112 appearances for Borussia Dortmund.

Donyell Malen is unlikely to play from the start in Borussia Dortmund's first few games of the season. But strong performances off the bench could help him stake a claim for a spot in Nuri Sahin's starting XI.