FROM Scotland’s perspective, Munas Dabbur could not have chosen a worse time to dispel the argument that he never replicates his club form on international duty.
The Red Bull Salzburg forward had scored just once for Israel – against the minnows of Andorra – heading into this week, but a well-timed friendly against Guatemala provided the perfect opportunity for Dabbur to add to his haul. A double in a 7-0 victory was the boost both he and the team needed heading into Tuesday’s Nations League group game at Hampden.
His lack of goals for his country up until this point had been something of a surprise given how prolific Dabbur has been at club level throughout most of career. Celtic have found that to their cost this season, the 26-year-old scoring twice in the sides’ 3-1 Europa League match. Another double against Rosenborg and a solitary strike against RB Leipzig in other group games demonstrate his consistency.
He has been just as potent domestically. Only 14 games into the Austrian Bundesliga season and unbeaten Salzburg already have a staggering 12-point lead over their nearest rivals. Dabbur has had a large part to play in that, scoring eight goals - and providing four assists – making him the country’s leading scorer. In more than 100 appearances for Salzburg, he is now scoring at a rate better than one every two games.
It is the kind of form that should give Alex McLeish and his patched-up defence plenty to think about ahead of the match with Israel.
“Scotland should most definitely be worried about him,” said Martin Schauhuber, sports reporter with Der Standard newspaper in Austria. “He’s an extremely important player for Salzburg. He may not be as paramount as some strikers are for their teams, but Salzburg’s system wouldn’t allow for a player to ever be that central. But there surely is a case to be made that he has been their most important player.”
It was not always so. Dabbur may now be vital to Red Bull - and Israel – but that was the not the case when he initially arrived from Swiss side Grasshoppers.
“Munas has developed into Salzburg’s No 1 goalscorer following the departure of captain Jonatan Soriano to China,” explained Michael Unverdorben, reporter with Salzburger Nachrichten. “But he had to take the long route to get there. When he first arrived from Grasshoppers he only scored two goals in his first half-season, was not playing well, and the fans did not take to him. They were even jeering him. Munas was not in a good place.
“Sporting director Christoph Freund chose to loan him back to Grasshoppers which was a bold decision. When he came back Soriano had left so the coast was clear for him to make his mark and he has done so.
“So far this has been his best season for Salzburg; not only is he a constant goal threat but he is working for the team, too. He is the sort of player who will always fulfil his duty for the side even if he is personally having an off-day in front of goal.
“He has found his place in the team, seems relaxed and with that the goals have flowed for him.”
Dabbur used to be prone to lapses of concentration but, worryingly for Scotland, Schauhuber says those days have now gone.
“He has the uncanny ability to get into scoring positions,” he added. “He’s not a bruiser, but I’d say he’s close to a pure scorer. As for his weaknesses, he had phases where it seemed like he couldn’t hit an empty goal from 10 yards out, but those days have long gone. Good luck finding a weakness right now.”
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