American attacker Kevin Paredes earns praise after long-awaited Wolfsburg return | OneFootball

Long-injured American winger Kevin Paredes finally made his first Bundesliga appearance of the 2024/25 campaign yesterday. A metatarsal fracture in his foot has kept the Wolfsburg professional on the sidelines for the entirety of this season. VfL head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl opted to immediately slot Paredes into the starting XI, and praised his player afterwards.

Paredes joined Germany’s green company team in the January 2022 transfer window. Even though he barely featured under then head coach Florian Kohfeldt, the Virginia native earned consistent praise for his performances in training. Kohfeldt’s successor Niko Kovac was also a big fan of his, using him as a regular late-match sub. Paredes collected three assists and scored one goal off the bench under Kovac in the 2022/23 campaign.

He then continued to thrive under Kovac and later Hasenhüttl the following season, recording three goals as a starter. The now 21-year-old went on to earn three USMNT caps and represent the USA at last summer’s Paris Olympics. The surgery-requiring fracture came at most unfortunate time for the rising youngster.

Haenhüttl very much liked what he saw from Paredes in a 2-2 draw with Mainz on Saturday. The former DC United player scored his last league goal in a start against Mainz on the final matchday of last season and worked well together with Jonas Wind and Patrick Wimmer on a second attacking axis behind lead striker Mohamed Amoura.

The youngster most definitely has a fan in the third coach he’s served under. It nevertheless remains the case that – with Hasenhüttl probably headed for the exit after this season – that Paredes may have to soon prove himself under a new coach.

“He was an invigorating presence and a threat in front of goal,” Hasenhüttl said of Paredes at the post-match press conference. “He could perhaps have made better use of one or two chances, but also made He made two incredible tackles. He showed today that defensive work is also very important in that position.”

GGFN | Peter Weis