Belgian Pro League 2023/2024 season preview: Sint-Truiden | OneFootball

Sint-Truiden were solid once again during the 2022/2023 season, with little attacking flair. Gianni Bruno scored almost half their total goals, but he has now returned to Gent. The side has seen a major overhaul this summer, with a new head coach and a raft of new players as the majority of the key players from last season have left.

Head coach: Thorsten Fink (unattached)

Transfers in:  Joselpho Barnes (FK Riga), Ryotaro Ito (Albirex Niigata), Ryoya Ogawa (FC Tokyo), Rihito Yamamoto (Gamba Osaka), Bruno Godeau (Gent), Frederic Ananou (Hansa Rostock)

Transfers out: Mory Konate (KV Mechelen), Tatsuya Ito (F.C Magdeburg), Toni Leistner (Hertha Berlin), Daichi Hayashi (Nurnberg, loan), Steve De Ridder (Deinze), Kenny Steppe (free)

Player to watch: Ryotaro Ito

There is plenty of intrigue around the signing of Ito from the J League. In 62 games for Albirex Niigata he scored 16 goals and 15 assists. Sint-Truiden have been in desperate need of creativity over the last few years, and with their apparent weak forward line, the midfield is going to have to step up in terms of providing goals and assists. Ito could well be their catalyst as a number 10.

Transfer needs:

The side could really do with a striker. Barnes is unknown, while Fatih Kaya and Alexander Filippov have not shown during their time in Belgium that they can lead the line for a Pro League side. Letting Hayashi leave on loan was an eyebrow raiser, as he would have been able to potentially reach double figures.

Prediction:

Sint-Truiden with their current squad look destined for a bottom four finish and a relegation battle. Goals are a major concern, and if rumours around the departure of goalkeeper Daniel Schmidt are to be believed, the defence will also be under pressure. There are still some decent young players in the squad, but Fink will have to get the best out of them if they are to avoid the relegation play-off altogether.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson