Realistic Expectations for Gonzalo Castro at Borussia Dortmund in 2015/16

For the most part, it would be fair to say that Thomas Tuchel's summer acquisitions in his first season at Borussia Dortmund have already proved themselves as quite the success.

Roman Burki arrived from Freiburg and very quickly made the step up needed to command the shot-stopper role behind a Dortmund defensive line that has proved rather porous over the past few seasons. The ageing, mistake-prone Roman Weidenfeller has been banished to the bench and the Bundesliga side look all the better for it.

Perhaps more surprising is another summer signing, Julian Weigl, was given an opportunity to show his worth during the summer tour of Asia. Despite playing in a number of relatively meaningless friendly matches, the 19-year-old has already proved his worth to Tuchel. Sven Bender has quickly been demoted to backup defensive midfielder for the younger, more versatile 1860 Munich import.

Yet one player who hasn't exactly hit the ground running at the Westfalenstadion is Gonzalo Castro. The midfielder signed from Bayer Leverkusen this summer, and despite a flurry of excitement surrounding his arrival, the experienced Bundesliga star hasn't found himself in Tuchel's plans nearly as much as his aforementioned team-mates.

Part of the reason for this is that Castro was never signed to start or indeed feature too heavily for Tuchel's side anyway. While the club were still struggling to decipher Ilkay Gundogan's future—something that still isn't entirely resolved despite the one-year contract extension he signed in July—the perceived wisdom seemed to be signing another central midfielder who could pull the strings in the centre of the park would be a safe bet.

Either Gundogan would part ways with Dortmund and they'd have a ready-made replacement already in the squad or they'd have some exceptional cover for the Germany international for at least a season more.

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Yet because of the welcome turn in events that has seen Tuchel turn this Dortmund side around in terms of individual performances—and Gundogan's form with it—we seem to find ourselves in a situation that suggests Castro simply won't get anywhere near this starting XI.

Alas, the midfielder has played just four minutes of Bundesliga football so far this season and largely been resigned to a warm seat on the bench at the start of his Dortmund career. The Europa League, and the lesser sides that come with it, have offered some solace, but the 28-year-old is still awaiting a full 90 minutes on the pitch for Tuchel’s side.

Indeed, this current conundrum seems as though it will be the main focus of Castro’s season. According to Transfermarkt, the player amassed 11 assists and two goals over the course of the previous campaign. As things stand, he’d be fortunate to be offered the opportunity to match even half that tally this season.

If Gundogan does indeed move on next summer, it will be pivotal to not only Castro but Dortmund as a whole that this summer’s acquisition is by that point established and ready to step into the side. Something that, at this point, looks a long way off.

It is not a behemoth task to demand of the new signing, but for this comping campaign, Castro has to do nothing but offer enough to suggest he one day may be able to replace the man who continues to keep him on the bench.