Explained: How is Joost van Aken getting on at VfL Osnabrück?
Joost van Aken has spent the season at VfL Osnabrück after joining on loan from Sheffield Wednesday in August 2019 and has been a regular at the Stadion an der Bremer Brücke this season. The 25-year-old will hope to put himself in the shop window for suitors as it’s unlikely he’ll ever play for Wednesday again after being frozen out last season.
Van Aken will return to Hillsborough at the end of the campaign and has another year left on his deal, but it remains to be seen if he has a future. The centre-back joined the Owls from Heerenveen in 2017 and has gone on to make 16 appearances in all competitions, but his last outing came in Wednesday’s EFL Cup win over Sunderland (August 16, 2018).
Van Aken has made 19 appearances across the board, scoring one goal, while Osnabruck are 10th in the Bundesliga II. As per WhoScored, the former Netherlands u21 international has won 64 aerial duels (57%), boasts an 80% dribble success rate, has blocked 24 shots/passes/crosses, made 95 clearances and averaged a tackle (19) or interception (15) every 48 minutes.
With Wednesday having the third-worst defensive record in the Championship since the turn of the year (13), supporters may feel van Aken deserves a reprieve. Dominic Iorfa, Julian Borner and Tom Lees haven’t covered themselves in glory of late, but Garry Monk may not be looking to bring him back.