Mikey Moore has had a one-on-one conversation with Köln coach René Wagner this week as the Tottenham loanee waits for his first goal for the German club.
The 19-year-old joined Köln at the end of the summer transfer window in search of regular playing time, after returning to north London from his loan spell at Rangers. At first it looked as though he could be part of Roberto De Zerbi’s plans.
Spending on the Lilywhites’ forward line pushed him down the pecking order, though, and that is how he ended up in Germany for the season. Now both Köln and Mikey Moore are waiting for the moment it clicks, with Spurs watching closely.
How has Mikey Moore’s loan at Köln gone so far?
The numbers are decent. Moore has made five Bundesliga appearances and registered an assist, and he has played 70% of the available minutes while starting 60% of the time.
What is missing is the goal. BILD report that it is now the icing on the cake in Cologne, and they argue he has neither scored nor assisted. Records elsewhere have him setting up a goal in the 4-1 defeat to Stuttgart in September.
Either way, the club are convinced he can offer more. They believe he knows how to play, but there is nothing tangible to show for it yet.
What did René Wagner say about Mikey Moore?
To help him get on the scoresheet, Moore sat down for that one-on-one chat with Wagner. The coach said: “He’s longing for that one moment, for things to finally click! In this league, he’s capable of beating almost any opponent in a one-on-one situation.”
Köln have also tried to take the pressure off him, insisting they cannot force more from the youngster. Pierre Littbarski, the Köln favourite and World Cup winner, recently caused a stir by telling BILD that the squad contains too much mediocrity.
Littbarski added: “I hope that Moore eventually starts finding the back of the net, too. He has good movement, a certain turn of speed, and he’s willing to take risks. I just hope he doesn’t end up stifled by a bland, uniform style of play. He’s certainly had enough scoring chances.”
Will Tottenham want Mikey Moore back?
Sporting director Thomas Kessler made the expectations clear to BILD: “For Mikey, the focus now needs to be on his continued development here, so that he can position himself to play an important role at Tottenham next year.”
The loan does not include an option to buy, so the plan is a return to N17 at the end of the season, and Spurs are keeping a close eye on how he performs. The official Tottenham Hotspur website is where the club’s own news lands, but for now the real test is in Germany.
Author Opinion
The minutes are there and the coach is on his side, which is the hard part of a loan. A first goal would settle the nerves for Moore and give Köln and Tottenham the proof they want. Until it comes, everyone will keep asking the same question.
