Kovac hints at start for Paredes: “He’s earned it.”

VfL Wolfsburg trainer Niko Kovac dropped strong hints that, with Patrick Wimmer out with an ankle injury this weekend, American talent Kevin Paredes will get his first Bundesliga start tomorrow. 

After several sparkling relief appearances in recent weeks, United States U20 international Kevin Paredes is in line to showcase his skills as a starter this weekend in the Bundesrepublik. VfL Wolfsburg trainer Niko Kovac confirmed that he would trust the American with a start against Leverkusen.
“I wouldn’t put it past him,” Kovac said when asked about the 19-year-old’s starting prospects, “He’s really earned it. He does exceptionally well in training, works hard. When he comes in, he steps on the gas both forward and backward.”

Paredes very nearly scored his first Bundesliga goal last weekend in the 2-2 draw with Gladbach. Only a fingertip save from BMG keeper Yann Sommer prevented the U.S. lad from getting off the mark. In Kovac’s newly stabilized tactics, Paredes has become the go-to late-sub for either Patrick Wimmer or Jukub Kaminski on the flanks. Wimmer will be unavailable this weekend after incurring an ankle injury in the Pokal.

It’s also possible that Paredes will remain on the bench whilst Omar Marmoush starts opposite Kaminski on the flanks. Kovac ruled out the possibility of rolling out a two-striker-set in the upcoming match, saying that he didn’t wish to tinker with the constellation in such a way. The VfL gaffer also indicated that he wasn’t considering deploying a ten or inserting the recovering Jonas Wind into the starting XI yet.

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