Kovac hints Mathis Albert could get lots of minutes

In his second competitive appearance with the senior squad, Mathis Albert (17) was handed a start and, as reported by kicker, played the full 90 minutes. Niko Kovač praised the youngster and signalled that his performances have put him in a position to earn more minutes with the first team in the coming weeks.

A second pro test

This is the kind of moment that usually decides whether a youth player can make the jump and stay in the rotation. Completing the entire match in his latest outing strengthens Albert’s case to keep featuring.

New competition arrives

Still, there’s no automatic spot reserved. kicker adds that Ethan Nwaneri—the new arrival—already looks ready to challenge for playing time, meaning Albert will have to keep pushing to remain among the options.

For now, the takeaway is clear: after this second outing, Kovač is willing to bet on Albert. The next step is simple—convert that trust into consistent minutes, even with fresh competition in the mix.