Malik Tillman pushing for Bayern Munich first-team breakthrough
Malik Tillman hopes to follow Jamal Musiala into the first-team picture at Bayern Munich with a new contract in hand as well as a goal on his Germany U21 debut.
The younger brother of Greuther Fürth's Timothy, Malik and Musiala were teammates after Musiala swapped Chelsea for Bayern in 2018/19. They played for the U19s under Sebastian Hoeneß, Tillman top-scoring with 13 goals on the way to that season's 3. Liga title.
But while Musiala has progressed to the Bayern first team and onto full international honours with Germany, Tillman was waylaid by a ruptured cruciate ligament and only worked his way back to full match fitness in time for the start of this season.
The 19-year-old has hit the ground running, though, with three goals and an assist in five games for Bayern's reserves, also making the senior matchday squad for victories over Cologne and RB Leipzig.
Eligible for the USA through his father - and capped for the USMNT at U15 level - Nuremberg-born Tillman made his debut for the Germany U21s on Thursday, opening the scoring for Antonio Di Salvo's team before laying on Jonathan Burkardt to conclude a 4-2 win over Israel.
"I grew up in Germany and it's a special honour to wear the eagle on my chest," Tillman explained after his superlative performance. "I'll do everything to be in the starting XI again."
Want more Bundesliga Action?
Brother Timothy, 22, has now featured eight times in the Bundesliga with Nürnberg and latterly Fürth. Malik - who recently signed a first professional contract which runs until 2024 - hopes it is only a matter of time before he follows suit with the champions.
"I still have a lot of work to do on myself," he said. "I have a lot of potential. I'm quite a calm calm player and I have to come out of my shell, I try to implement that. I'm waiting for my chance and then I'll try to seize it."
Tillman will get his next chance to do that on Sunday, when league-leading Bayern take on nearest pursuers Bayer Leverkusen at the BayArena.
Related news
How do Dortmund and Leipzig stack up?
We take a look at where the big Matchday 9 clash will be won as Dortmund look to push for the top four while Leipzig eye the Bundesliga's top spot on Saturday...
How do Boniface and Undav compare?
Ahead of Leverkusen's clash with Stuttgart on Friday, we take a look at the two star strikers' journeys in Germany.
Leverkusen and Stuttgart renew rivalry
After three fabulous tussles last season and Supercup drama in August, two of the Bundesliga's most attack-minded sides meet again on Friday.