Following an instructive debut season in the Bundesliga, Hertha Berlin striker Salomon Kalou appears to have rediscovered his scoring touch in 2015/16.

The thrill of netting a hat-trick in the Old Lady's commanding 3-1 win at Hannover 96 on Matchday 12 still fresh in his mind, the 30-year-old Cote d'Ivoire international took a moment to tell bundesliga.com about his and fourth-placed Hertha's impressive run of form.

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bundesliga.com: There are only five matches until the winter break. What's your objective?

Kalou: We want to pick up as many points as possible to put a bit of breathing space between ourselves and our direct rivals. We also want to continue playing attractive football, but we know it'll be far from easy because we've got a major hurdle against FC Bayern coming up and then we face Bayer Leverkusen at home. If we can come through that period, then we can aim for a top-half finish.

bundesliga.com: Your next game is against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim. Are you optimistic you'll get another win?

Kalou: We have to take the game seriously. It's important to win our home games. Last time out at the Olympiastadion, we lost to a solid Gladbach side and now we want to make up for that. If we win, we'll establish our place towards the top.

Salomon Kalou was speaking to Alexis Menuge