Noahkai Banks: 'I'm not there yet' as he focuses on growth

Mauricio Pochettino publicly named Noahkai Banks a “massive talent,” a compliment that the defender’s family duly circulated. Banks welcomed the praise but was careful about its tone, saying, "It was a great compliment... I'm not there yet. It's been great, but I'm not there yet." Banks has translated promise into playing time in the Bundesliga.

After eight appearances last season, he has started 15 games this campaign, scored his first senior goal in the opening minutes of a 3-1 win over Wolfsburg and was quickly reinstated to the side after a yellow-card suspension. Statistically he sits among the league’s leaders in tackles, blocks and duels and is in the 75th percentile for passing among centre backs, even as Augsburg hover near the relegation zone.

His first senior USMNT camp in September was an introduction rather than a baptism; he didn’t see game time against South Korea and Japan but called the experience valuable. "I was pretty nervous...

Germany, Augsburg

noahkai banks, mauricio pochettino, augsburg, bundesliga, usmnt, wolfsburg, centre back, tackles, passing, relegation