It’s now hard to imagine SV Werder’s central midfield without Jens Stage in it. The Dane has started nine out of ten league games in his second year as a Werder player. Only Mitchell Weiser has played more league minutes for the Green-Whites so far this season, racking up 35 more minutes than Stage. Stage has appeared in a new role as a defensive midfielder in the last three Bundesliga games. The 26-year-old played particularly well in his side’s 2-2 draw away at VfL Wolfsburg, revelling as a pillar of strength for Werder.