Malines struggle to utilise Dennis Praet despite his Golden Shoe pedigree

KV Malines celebrated the signing of 2014 Golden Shoe winner Dennis Praet in July, yet the midfielder spent 80 minutes on the bench in the club's first league victory since his arrival last weekend.

Praet’s limited role in the win

The Sang & Or side secured the win without Praet touching the ball, highlighting a substitution pattern that has gone almost unnoticed. Despite the triumph, the midfielder’s involvement was restricted to a single appearance on the bench.

Marco Lecherf shines as a substitute

Marco Lecherf, the club’s substitute, delivered an excellent performance in what was only the eleventh match of his career, prompting questions about his suitability for a more dynamic box‑to‑box role. Coach Frank Vanderbiest praised Lecherf, saying, "What he brings is positive. He has an enormous volume of running and sometimes puts himself in difficulty by trying to run too much at certain moments."

Vanderbiest’s comments suggest that Lecherf’s high‑energy style may better suit the team’s system than Praet’s more technical approach, especially given the need for a player who can quickly reach the opposition’s half.

Praet has previously featured in full matches against La Louvière and Lommel, where Malines produced two of its best second‑half displays. Those performances secured his place in the squad and demonstrated his ability to influence games when given the chance.

Earlier in the season, Praet replaced Mrabti in the starting eleven, a player who frequently ventured into the box. The former Anderlecht midfielder lacks the same attacking instinct, which may explain the coach’s preference for Lecherf in certain tactical setups.

While Praet’s experience remains valuable, the club’s recent success without him raises the question of whether Malines can benefit more from Lecherf’s dynamic runs. The adaptation to the Jupiler Pro League’s intensity has also been highlighted as an area for improvement, potentially affecting Praet’s future playing time.