Grading Borussia Dortmund's Midfielders on Form so Far This Season

Borussia Dortmund look as though they may be on the cusp of turning their season around, and it would be in no small part down to the excellent depth and talent they possess in midfield. 

Jurgen Klopp's side have had their fair share of injuries this season, which has undoubtedly affected their league form to a disastrous degree, but this has in turn allowed us to get a fair look at each of the club's midfielders to decide which ones are up the task. 

Here's a run down of Dortmund's midfield on form so far this season.

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Note: To keep this list precise, we have excluded players who may technically play as midfielders on a tactics board but who are in fact forwards. That includes the likes of Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. We have also omitted players who have failed to make at least five league appearances this season. 

Nuri Sahin: C

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Although Nuri Sahin has only very recently returned to the Dortmund first team, his influence and importance to the manner in which they play their football has been duly noted. 

The Turkey international may not quite be back to his old self just yet, but at the heart of midfield, Sahin plays an important role in keeping possession and dictating the pace of play.

We may not always notice the humble central midfielder from game to game, but the job he performs for Dortmund is of the utmost importance.

Ilkay Gundogan: A

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Like Sahin, Ilkay Gundogan's return to the Dortmund midfield has been met with a drastic upturn in the club's Bundesliga form. 

Gundogan has been a vital cog in the Klopp machine since arriving at Dortmund in 2011 and has spent the past month or so pointing out how much of a difference just one player can make. 

Whether terrorising opposition attacking midfielders or laying off goals for his forwards, Gundogan at his best is one of the most polished players in the European game today, and one that Dortmund desperately need in their midfield at all times.

Sven Bender: C

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Sven Bender may be out injured at the moment but the young Germany international was a vital part of Klopp's side earlier in the season. 

Unfortunately, the defensive midfielder often looks heavy-handed and a little too blunt in his passing and distribution when the likes of Gundogan or Sahin aren't alongside him to take the burden of pushing forward off his hands.

Although a useful and talented player, Bender hasn't looked nearly as composed or consistent this season as he has in the past. 

Sebastian Kehl: D

Michael Sohn/Associated Press

At 35 years of age, Sebastian Kehl is no spring chicken. Unfortunately for the defensive midfielder, that has certainly began to show this season. 

In a very similar manner to Bender's troubled campaign, Kehl has suffered from a real lack of technical players around him in midfield and has at times come to personify Dortmund's total disregard for the total football they once played. 

A very loyal and modest player, Kehl will be the first to admit he never expected to feature as heavily as he has done this season. Fortunately, fans will remember the earlier, more successful times under this former captain.

Shinji Kagawa: B

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

Shinji Kagawa may have made the right decision to return to Dortmund this season, but unfortunately, the Japan international still remains as something of a lightning rod for criticism and attention following his underwhelming time at Manchester United. 

The Japan international hasn't jumped back into the side with any great deal of success. Nor has he looked out of his depth or completely useless. The stats—such as these ones by WhoScored.com—may suggest Kagawa only has two goals and three assists to his credit this season, but the attacking midfielder has brought so much more to the team than simple numbers to crunch. 

He's not quite back to his best, but he's a useful player who looks more competent and sure of himself with every passing game.

Kevin Grosskreutz: D

Michael Probst/Associated Press

Adored by fans of the Westfalenstadion club, Kevin Grosskreutz has at times offered nothing but frustration and idle promises this season. 

The winger-cum-full-back-cum-central midfielder may be the famous Jack of all trades, but the manner in which he seems completely unable to master any position has either made him a somewhat incompetent attack-minded defender or an unskilled forward. 

Somewhere between the two lies Grosskreutz. Forever useful to Klopp when the injuries start piling up, he's not a player you would look to for answers when the going gets tough.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan: D

Frank Augstein/Associated Press

If Dortmund's greatest fault this season has been their horrendous league form and consequent inability to come even close to challenging Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, then their second fault has been the form of Henrikh Mkhitaryan. 

Brought to the club with a weight of expectation outgunned only by the fee spent to sign him, Mkhitaryan has regressed after what was a relatively successful debut season.

The Armenia international now finds himself on the bench most weeks, stuck in the pecking order behind Kagawa and Gundogan for a shot a the No. 10 role and still has no league goal to his name this season.