5 Things for Borussia Dortmund Fans to Look Forward to in 2015

The past 12 months have been far from comfortable for most fans of Borussia Dortmund.

After losing another Bundesliga championship to Bayern Munich, most thought this season promised a genuine challenge to the order. Instead, Jurgen Klopp's side capitulated beyond any sense of belief and currently find themselves in 17th place. 

It would be very hard for 2015 to be any worse. 

Alas, there are plenty of things for Dortmund fans to get excited about over the course of the next 12 months. They still have their star player, more have arrived in the January transfer window and their beloved coach is still pulling the strings and will be as desperate as anyone to get the club back on track. 

2015 may just be a great year for Dortmund. Here's why.

The Return of Marco Reus

Michael Probst/Associated Press

Marco Reus may have only managed seven Bundesliga and two Champions League games this season, but in those nine games, he's proved to be far beyond anything else at Dortmund this season. 

According to Transfermarkt, the Germany international has amassed five goals and three assists, and his manager will be desperate to get him back in the side and winning games for his club. 

Like Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze before him, Reus quite simply wins games for Dortmund single-handedly when he's on song. And the Black and Yellows are in such desperate need of such match-winners.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos Back in Defence

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

There was once a time when few Dortmund fans considered Sokratis Papastathopoulos as anything but luxury cover for a defence that needed little tampering. Klopp had Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic, and between them, they had the best defence in the Bundesliga. 

Oh, how times change. 

These days at the Westfalenstadion, you'd be more likely to see a shooting star than a competent performance between Subotic and Hummels, and while their form continues to elude them, Sokratis has quickly established himself as one of the few reliable players in this current squad. 

Dortmund's defence may be neither here nor there, but once the Greece international returns from injury, we should see a significant change in Klopp's fortunes.

Nuri Sahin Pulling the Strings

Paul White/Associated Press

Klopp's team desperately miss the expertise of Nuri Sahin in the middle of the pitch.

In the Turkey international's absence, Dortmund have resorted to the old, simple formula of lumping Sven Bender and Sebastian Kehl, two defensive midfielders, in the holding roles to very little success. 

What this tends to do is simplify and destroy what should be the bedrock of what Dortmund's springboard offence is entirely based on: key passes from deep positions in midfield. Bender is an outstanding tackler and defensive midfielder, but he isn't much for making plays, while Kehl has long since past his best.

Dortmund need a playmaker in the centre of midfield, and few perform the role better than Sahin.

Kevin Kampl in Attack

Kerstin Joensson/Associated Press

Dortmund have wasted little time in the January transfer window, acquiring attacking midfielder Kevin Kampl from Red Bull Salzburg. An addition to the forward line and undoubtedly a player to keep an eye on in 2015. 

According to Transfermarkt, the 24-year-old star bagged 11 goals and 16 assists in just 31 games for the Austrian side this season, and he will be hoping to improve upon that tally with his new German club.

In Kampl, Dortmund will finally have an injection of pace and excitement in their side and should hope to push on over the next 12 months accordingly.

Moving Back Up the Bundesliga Table

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

Dortmund may currently be sitting far from pretty in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga table, but 2015 should offer a much different approach and level of success than the conclusion of the last 12 months.

Following some much needed time off, the return of some key players from injury and the addition of some exciting transfers means there really is absolutely nothing stopping Klopp's side from grabbing the rest of this campaign by the horns and pulling themselves back up the league table. 

A fourth-place finish and the Champions League football that goes with it is just 12 points away. Should Dortmund kick off 2015 with a bang and a decent run of form, they could well be in a perfect spot to reclaim what was once theirs in this division before too long.