Schuster likens Huntelaar to Van Basten

Bernd Schuster has praised Schalke striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar following his superb form in the 2011-12 campaign.

Huntelaar moved to Real Madrid in January 2009, less than one month after Schuster had left his post as coach of Los Blancos, but never really managed to secure regular first-team action at the Santiago Bernabeu.

After an unsuccessful spell with AC Milan, Huntelaar joined Schalke in the summer of 2010. He has since rediscovered his scoring touch at the Bundesliga side this term, and Schuster is impressed with the attacker’s finishing skills.

“He looks like he was cloned from Marco van Basten. The way he moves, shoots with both legs and his powerful headers, all reminds me of Van Basten,” Schuster said.

Team-mate Lewis Holtby was equally positive about the Dutchman’s goalscoring instincts, and had nothing but praise for Huntelaar’s predatory skills.

“You could behead him and he would still score goals. I knew the Dutch knew the holes in their cheeses but Klaas finds every hole in the opposition defence,” he said.

Huntelaar has already netted 12 times in 13 Bundesliga appearances this season.