Since Geis' arrival from Greuther Fürth for just under £800,000, he has excelled under coach Thomas Tuchel's guidance. Mainz are currently mixing it with the pre-season favourites for European qualification and don't look one bit out of place. Tuchel's men currently sit in seventh place, level on points with big spending Wolfsburg and just three behind a stuttering Bayer Leverkusen. Young Johannes has featured in all of the Karnival club's games this season and it's easy to see why, despite being a Summer arrival, he has seemlessly slotted in ahead of Mainz' first team regulars last year.

The influence of the youngster can not be underestimated in any way, as he is the catalyst and one of the main reasons why Mainz have been so successful this season. His role is not only to break up and disrupt the opposition play, but Geis is the key to starting any of his side's attacks. The 20 year-old's calmness and control in the face of adversity is marvelous and has to be admired. Facing many a player who has been well established at their club and nullifying their influence on the game is no small feat for a player who has already made seven more appearances for Mainz than he did in three years for his previous employers.

Adding both a solidness to Mainz's defence contribution and a crucial element to their exciting counter-attacking play-style, everyone in the team has benefited from Geis' arrival. His defensive capabilities would make any defender jealous. Geis is the most important players among Thomas Tuchel's men, his role allows the more creative players to express themselves fully, without having a large defensive limitation placed upon them. It's a given that Tuchel expects his side to press and press hard, but once the opposition get past their vigorous pressing, Geis is there to mop up anything that should get away from his teammates.

With sixteen blocks and fifty-seven clearances, he easily surpasses other top quality Bundesliga midfielders like Christoph Kramer, Luiz Gustavo and Lars Bender. Despite Kramer and Gustavo having more interceptions and Kramer having slightly more tackles, Geis still has forty-six interceptions and sixty-five tackles to his name. All of the players mentioned have a defenite aerial prescence, and the impressive Geis is again near the top, as he wins 54% of his battles in the air which is just 2% behind Gladbach's Kramer. Add to that just a single defensive error and you have one of the most competent and, sadly, under-rated holding players in the Bundesliga.

Now onto his creative and ball-playing strengths, which are just as strong as his defensive abilities. The best illustration of his comprehensive passing range would be against Wolfsburg. After picking up the ball on the edge of his eighteen yard box, Geis picked up his head and sent a marvelous sixty yard pass straight to Nicolai Muller, who finished with aplom to kill the game at two-nil. The composure for a young man to play such a pass as his team entered the final ten minutes a man up and a goal up, shows how wise of a head he has on his shoulders. Many players would have drove into the space in front of them and tried to win a foul to run down the clock, but no, Geis used his expert tactical mind to engineer an important win for his side. Geis' passing range is that which many player his senior would die for.

He also possess a fantastic work-rate and energy, which allows him to be as mobile and effective as he is around the pitch. Yet his footballing brain means he is rarely out of position. Evidence of his excellent long passing range is is average passing range, standing at 25.35m, this is over five metres longer distance than Gustavo, Kramer and Lars Bender, another feather in his well filled cap. Young Geis has also created more chances than those three combined, with the Mainz man creating forty-seven, the others with forty-two. He also has more key passes than the others added tofgether too, with his forty-three trumping their total of forty. Add in the fact he also has 812 forward passes, matched by Kramer, it's clear to see that Geis is Mainz' metronome, initiating the play at every opportunity.

As is evident from all of the stats above, it is clear to see that Geis is not only one of Mainz' best players, but also one of many up and coming talents in the Bundesliga. Comparing his stats to Luiz Gustavo, one would imagine that the young German would be the more expensive of the two. While Geis also has a fierce drive on his right-foot, if he could improve that aspect of his game even slightly, he'll surely be one of the most wanted talents in Europe. Saying that, his strike against Nürnberg last season was nothing short of spectacular. It does however beg the question, after this sterling season not yet finished and his ability and stock rising by the game, what sort of value would he command this Summer?

All that is certain is young Geis' influence and reputation is growing by the game. From a personal point of view, he can surely only grow into one of the most talented holding players in the league, it won't be long until the big names come knocking for his signature.

Stats from Squawka and correct as of matchday 26.