U.S. international Aron Johannsson needs time to settle at Werder Bremen, club captain Clemens Fritz has said.
Still, the 24-year-old could already feature against FC Schalke at the weekend.
Johannsson joined Bremen from AZ Alkmaar in a deal reported to be worth €4.5 million earlier this month. The striker was signed to replace Franco Di Santo, who left Werder on short notice when triggering a release clause in his contract to make way for his transfer to FC Schalke 04.
On Saturday, Di Santo will return to the Weserstadion and could meet his successor on the pitch. Johannsson was rested in the German Cup last weekend.
Kicker said that the U.S. player will team up with Anthony Ujah, another Bremen signing this summer, to form the attack in Bremen's first match of the season.
But while the club's CEO Thomas Eichin believes that "nothing speaks against" Johannsson's inclusion in the starting formation, the player himself still has doubts over his fitness. The club has been posting updates on Johannsson's fitness via Twitter.
.@aronjo20: "I'm taking it day by day. I'm not thinking about Saturday; my focus is on training today." #svws04 pic.twitter.com/DPldBnsJ9N
- SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) August 13, 2015
#USMNT's @aronjo20 is quickly adjusting to life as #Werder player. pic.twitter.com/JOUHhwyekm
- SV Werder Bremen EN (@werderbremen_en) August 12, 2015
"It gets better from day to day. But I am not sure that I can go the full 90 minutes," Johannsson told Bild.
Club captain Clemens Fritz, also speaking to the German tabloid, also asked for patience and said that the move into Bundesliga is not that easy.
"I believe, that you have to allow him a bit of time to settle. It's a switch from the Netherlands to Germany. You should not expect too much," Fritz said. "I would not be surprised if he were not to start against Schalke."