Noel Aseko made an immediate case for Eintracht Frankfurt’s midfield plans, starting and playing 59 minutes of the 3-1 win at Mainz only six days after Adi Hütter had said the 20-year-old was not ready to begin a Bundesliga match.
Noel Aseko gives Frankfurt a new midfield option
SEO Title: Noel Aseko impresses on Eintracht Frankfurt debut in Mainz
SEO Description: Noel Aseko started Eintracht Frankfurt’s 3-1 win at Mainz after a delayed return from knee trouble, offering pace and drive alongside Raphael Onyedika.
The €12 million summer signing had not played a minute for Frankfurt before the trip to Mainz. After matchday two on September 6, Hütter had tempered expectations, saying he still could not see Aseko being fit to start.
That assessment changed quickly. Hütter said the midfielder’s work over the previous two and a half weeks had been impossible to ignore. Aseko was not yet at full physical capacity and could not be expected to last beyond an hour, the coach said, but his training performances earned him the opportunity.
Frankfurt took the unusual step of selecting a player known to have limited minutes in him. It also underlined the club’s belief in Aseko.
He did not look overawed on his Bundesliga debut. Aseko showed clean technique and acceleration in central areas, particularly before half-time, when he carried the ball through a large section of midfield and beyond several Mainz players. There were defensive errors, but he also reacted strongly to recover possession after some of them.
Sporting director Markus Krösche urged patience after the match. He said Aseko had shown promising elements, but Frankfurt would allow him time to settle.
Knee history requires a measured approach
Aseko’s start to life in Frankfurt was delayed by persistent knee issues. The problem had already interrupted his second half of last season with Hannover 96, and he needed almost four months after the campaign ended to become competitive again.
Frankfurt will therefore manage his workload carefully, despite the encouraging Mainz display.
Onyedika remains the fixed point
Building a reliable midfield partnership is one of Frankfurt’s main early-season tasks. Raphael Onyedika has completed all 90 minutes in each of the club’s four competitive fixtures so far, but his partner has changed regularly.
- Mario Götze has started beside Onyedika twice.
- Fares Chaibi has done so once.
- Aseko joined him at Mainz.
- Oscar Höjlund has played only 11 minutes as a substitute.
On paper, Aseko’s direct and adventurous game complements the more disciplined, defensive-minded Onyedika. Frankfurt have often lacked pace and forward thrust from this position, with slow sideways circulation too common in previous midfield combinations.
There will also be matches in which Aseko’s risk-taking runs are less suitable. Then Götze’s passing security and structural control may be the preferred balance alongside Onyedika.
