Tarik Elyounoussi was labelled a failure of a signing for Hoffenheim in the 2013/14 Bundesliga campaign. His move from Norwegian side Rosenborg Ballklub wasn't much of a success, as he failed to score in the 23 appearances he notched up for Hoffenheim in debut season.
However, this season has given him a new lease of life, and he has notched up five goals already in the first eight games of the season, a far cry from last year's unsuccessful output.
'I am like a ketchup bottle, you shake it constantly, then it all comes at once'
- Tarik Elyounoussi
Clearly, the 26-year-old has developed over the past twelve months, and has been a key player in Hoffenheim's unbeaten run this season, lifting his side to second place, four points behind league leaders Bayern Munich. In their opening seven Elyounoussi has scored four goals - the same amount as Munich's Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze. In an interview he recently used a utterly bizarre - but rather apt - metaphor to describe his situation: 'I am like a ketchup bottle: You shake it constantly and, at first, nothing comes out. And then it all comes at once. That's pretty accurate."
The Norwegian, however, remains modest, hoping that his striking partners can score soon: "Now, if Roberto Firmino and Kevin Volland begin to score, then we won't be stopped."
This will be music to the ears of Hoffenheim's fans, who will hope to see their side continue their great start to the Bundesliga campaign.