“More in the future” – Hoffenheim head coach highlights plans for new boy Gift Orban

TSG 1899 Hoffeinhem head coach, Christian Ilzer, has revealed his plans to slowly integrate Nigerian striker, Gift Orban, into his side’s starting lineup, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 22-year-old joined the German Bundesliga side from Olympique Lyonnais during the January transfer window after his time in France didn’t go as planned, and he’s loving life in Deutschland.

Orban has found the back of the net twice in two consecutive games, coming off the bench to inject some aggression into Hoffeinhem’s attack.

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While many have been clamouring for the Nigerian to claim a place in the starting line up at the PreZero Arena, Christian Ilzer urges for patience with the former Gent striker.

“He usually has to prove himself in short appearances. We are working on his integration bit by bit, but we have already made a lot of progress.

“He can already do it, but he will be able to help us a lot more in the future,” the Hoffeinhem head coach said in quotes revealed by Liga Insider.

Hoffeinhem are currently 15th on the Bundesliga table, four points above the relegation spots and have had particular problems scoring goals, hence the signature of Gift Orban from Lyon.

Christian Ilzer’s side rank 14th on the Bundesliga goalscoring charts, scoring 26 goals from 20 games. They’ve conceded the third most goals in the league (40), behind FC Heidenheim (42) and Holstein Kiel (52).

Despite just joining in January, Gift Orban’s two goals in four league games puts him 4th on the club goalscorer’s list, behind Marius Bülter (4), Adam Hlozek (6), and Andrej Kramaric (7).