Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 6y

U.S. striker Aron Johannsson eyes starting role at Werder Bremen

United States striker Aron Johannsson is targeting a regular place in the Werder Bremen starting XI after scoring as a substitute in Friday's 2-2 draw at Borussia Monchengladbach.

Johannsson struck in the 78th minute to secure a point -- the third time in 2018 that he has had a hand in a late goal after coming off the bench.

The 27-year-old now wants to convince coach Florian Kohfeldt to use him from the start.

He started against Wolfsburg and Freiburg but has since returned to the bench, coming on to set up late winners against Schalke and Hamburg.

"I am not a player who is happy on the bench. I always want to start," he said.

"Fundamentally, I am not a super sub -- I might have been this in the past two games."

Kohfeldt told reporters: "He's incredibly important for us when he's coming off the bench. He opens spaces and is dangerous in front of goal."

But Johannsson said he felt he could have played better against Gladbach.

"I am not that pleased," he added. "I needed to score two goals here."

The attacker won only four minutes of playing time in the first half of the Bundesliga season but has seen his star rise this calendar year.

"I need to pinch myself looking at the last six months," he said. "It didn't look good for me, but everything's better now.

"And, really, I could also be pleased with every minute I am on the pitch."

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