Mainz have exploded back onto the Bundesliga scene following their promotion last season, combining tactical astuteness with physical aggression to excellent effect. On of the men responsible for their remarkable early-season form is Austrian striker Ivanschitz. Having arrived from Athens over the summer, the 26-year-old is currently second in the goalscoring charts with six goals.

bundesliga.de caught up with the Mainz hitman to discuss his scintillating form, how Austrians perceive the Bundesliga and the upcoming match against fellow promoted side 1. FC Nürnberg.

bundesliga.de: Mr Ivanschitz, you are currently the joint-second best striker in the Bundesliga with six goals from 11 games. It seems you have taken the transition to Germany's top league in your stride...

Andreas Ivanschitz: I've had a good start and I'm very happy about that, but it's a credit to the entire team and the club. I've been made to feel really welcome here and we're playing good football as a team at the moment, so I can't bleat on about my own achievements.

bundesliga.de: What was your reasons for joining Mainz and coming to the Bundesliga over the summer?

Ivanschitz: Mainly because it's a real challenge to play in the German Bundesliga. Mainz 05 are a very friendly club. The coach and the club convinced me that this was the right move for me. I got a good feeling right from the first discussions and quickly decided to join Mainz.

bundesliga.de: After the match against Wolfsburg you were complaining of pains in your foot. What happened there exactly and how is your foot now?

Ivanschitz: Josue trod on my foot just before the end and I got a bruised toe out of it. Luckily nothing was broken or badly injured. It still hurts a bit, but I can still train as normal.

bundesliga.de: Kurt Jara, Peter Pacult, Toni Polster, Andreas Herzog. All Austrians who enjoyed successful careers in the Bundesliga... How do people view the Bundesliga back in Austria?

Ivanschitz: Very highly. The league is very highly thought of across Europe and rightly so, because there is plenty of good football to be seen and there are several very good teams. It's a fairly level playing field and many clubs enjoy success in Europe year on year.

bundesliga.de: Thomas Tuchel has been labelled the next big thing in management. Do you agree with their assessment?

Ivanschitz: He's certainly played a big part in our success this season. He does a great job preparing us for matches every week and his training sessions are always very enjoyable and challenging. He is dedicated to the development of the team.

bundesliga.de: You take on 1. FC Nürnberg on Saturday. How will you be approaching the match?

Ivanschitz: Just like all the other games this season. We're taking the match very seriously. So far we've played very well at home and we want to win this important match against Nürnberg.

bundesliga.de: Mainz are still unbeaten at home and the fans have contributed in no small way to that, no doubt. Have you ever experienced fans like the ones in Mainz?

Ivanschitz: The Mainz fans are certainly something special. They always make for a good atmosphere and support us superbly. They're our twelfth man and they've played a big part in our success at home this season.

Interview by Sebastian Stolz/Translation: Andy James