Brunner's five pre-season goals put him in AS Monaco's starting frame
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
German forward Paris Brunner scored five goals in six friendly matches, raising real questions about his place in Monaco's starting eleven this season.
At 20 years old, Paris Brunner has given Adi Hütter a genuine selection dilemma heading into the new campaign. The German attacker finished Monaco's pre-season with five goals in six outings, a return that is hard for any coach to ignore when naming a starting line-up.
The timing matters. Monaco travel to Zabrze on Thursday evening for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League qualifier, and Brunner will be pushing hard for a place from the off rather than a role from the bench. His own ambition is clear: he has stated publicly that his target is to be a starter, not a squad option.
For supporters at the Stade Louis II and residents who follow the club closely, Brunner represents the kind of young attacking talent that could define Monaco's European season. Whether Hütter hands him that responsibility in Poland on Thursday will be the first real test of how seriously the club rates his pre-season form.