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Florian Wirtz's start at Liverpool has been somewhat turbulent following his $155million transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, but the German is resolute in turning things around.
Despite the initial excitement surrounding his arrival, the 22-year-old attacking midfielder has faced criticism for his subdued start under Arne Slot's reign.
Wirtz has yet to score or provide an assist in the Premier League and was notably absent from the starting line-up in recent matches against Everton and Chelsea. His sole contribution to a goal so far was an assist on his debut, against Crystal Palace in the Community Shield, with the midfielder now having made 10 appearances across all competitions for the club.
Given his substantial transfer fee - and the high expectations that come with it - many pundits have been quick to critique Wirtz's performances and Slot's utilisation of him, intensifying the scrutiny on both the player and the club.
Despite this, Wirtz has received considerable support from Germany, with numerous footballing legends expressing confidence that he'll soon demonstrate his true calibre at Liverpool.
In the interim, Wirtz will be aiming to make his mark during October's international break. Germany are scheduled to host Luxembourg in their upcoming World Cup qualifier on Friday, before travelling to Northern Ireland on Monday.
Wirtz did manage to find the net with a spectacular free-kick during the previous international break in the reverse fixture against Michael O'Neill's side, though that strike remains his sole goal for club or country so far this season.
Now, with Germany's upcoming fixtures on the horizon, the midfielder has reportedly been clocking up extra hours on the training pitch in an effort to recapture his finest form.
Following Germany's training session on Tuesday, BILD reported that Wirtz stayed behind on the training pitches for additional shooting practice before heading to the gym for a further weights session.
Germany team-mate David Raum has also been quoted heaping praise on the Liverpool man - whilst confirming the extra graft Wirtz is putting in during national team training.
"The boy is hardworking and shows energy on and off the pitch," he said. "He was once again one of the longest players on the pitch today. We believe in the boy, we're building him up here. But he also knows what he's capable of."
Given the player's ongoing adaptation to the physical demands of the Premier League, coupled with his limited goal-scoring return this campaign, the additional work Wirtz is undertaking on the training ground can only serve him well on both fronts as he seeks to kickstart his Liverpool career and, in turn, silence his critics.
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