Sunday 16 November 2014 12:50, UK
Former Germany manager Rudi Voller believes out-of-favour Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski may have to leave the club if he is to reignite his international career.
Having been part of Germany's World Cup triumph in Brazil this summer, Podolski has failed to feature for either club or country on a consistent basis, with Thomas Muller, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck preferred by Joachim Low and Arsene Wenger respectively.
The 29-year-old was unable to capitalise on an opportunity to gain some valuable playing time in Germany’s latest Euro 2016 qualifier – failing to score in 90 minutes against minnows Gibraltar in Nuremburg.
But Voller believes Podolski still has plenty to offer the Germans, and expects to see him revitalised in the new year once he has thrashed out his future with the Gunners this winter.
And with Low openly admitting Podolski’s inability to nail down a starting berth at the Emirates could jeopardise his position in the national set-up, Voller hinted a move away from the capital could become increasingly likely.
"You must not write Poldi off, he's not very old yet, at 29,” Voller told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
"Lukas is a very good player who always faces up to the challenge. Competition has got fiercer, but it says a lot that he is still always involved (for Germany).
"Of course it's an advantage for a player's self-confidence when he is playing regularly, though."
That is something Podolski will be seeking this winter when the transfer window opens with Low's warning that he will lose his place in the national team enough to convince him to take action.
"I know how to deal with my situation and what Jogi has said," Podolski said.
"It's just the case that I'm lacking a rhythm and this is down to the fact that I am not playing regularly for my club."
