Marvin Ducksch

Ducksch leads the line with genuine physical presence, holding off a defender to bring teammates into play before arriving in the box himself to finish moves he started. That approach was built gradually through Germany's second tier, at clubs like Holstein Kiel and Hannover, before he established himself in the Bundesliga at Werder Bremen. He arrived at Birmingham with a proven habit of scoring goals wherever he has played, and he began finding the net again almost immediately.

The obvious question for an experienced striker moving into a new league later in his career is whether instincts that worked in Germany translate quickly enough against unfamiliar opponents. Championship defenders play a more physical, less spaced out game than many sides he faced in Germany, which can blunt a striker used to more room. Early signs suggest the adjustment has not slowed him down, and defenders here are already learning that.