Germany coach Jürgen Klinsmann has named his squad for the friendly match against Bruce Arena's USA, surprisinglyly calling up uncapped FSV Mainz defender Manuel Friedrich for their World Cup warm-up against the United States next week.

The 26-year-old is the only uncapped player chosen in the 23-man squad for the game on March 22 in Dortmund.

“We have been following Manuel closely for a while,” said Klinsmann. “He has been constantly improving and is a very interesting player.”

Klinsmann, who has been under massive pressure to provide results since a 4-1 thrashing by Italy in a friendly on March 1, also picked midfielder Sebastian Kehl from Borussia Dortmund in what could be a calming gesture to the local fans.

German officials fear that Dortmund fans might not fully support Klinsmann and his team at the friendly after the Klinsmann said that experienced Borussia Dortmund defender Christian Wörns would play no role in the World Cup Finals after the defender criticised the German coach’s tactics and team selection policy.

26-year-old Kehl has won 24 caps for Germany but has not played for the national team since Klinsmann took over in August 2004.

“We have always said that Sebastian had a chance,” said Klinsmann.

“This decision has nothing to do with the fact that the game will be played in Dortmund.”

Robert Huth has also been named in the squad to face the USA in the friendly, but the Chelsea defender will only play if Jose Mourinho doesn’t pick him for Chelsea’s FA Cup tie against Newcastle on March 22, Klinsmann said.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, who missed the Italy friendly because of a thigh injury, returns to the squad and is expected to start with his rival for the no.1 jersey, Arsenal keeper Jens Lehmann, likely to start the game on the bench.

Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann, who also was not called on for the Italy friendly, has not been named in the squad due to Liverpool’s FA Cup clash against Birmingham City on March 21, leaving the experienced German international little time to impress Klinsmann prior to the Finals.

Also missing are defender Andreas Hinkel and midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, both from VfB Stuttgart, but VfB goalkeeper Thomas Hildebrand has been selected.

“Our World Cup preparations are firming up but the door remains open for interesting candidates,” said the German coach.

The game against the United States is the last one scheduled for Germany before the May 15 deadline for naming the squad lists for the World Cup Finals.

Prior to the start of the Finals on June 9, the hosts will play Japan in Leverkusen on May 30 and Colombia in Moenchengladbach on June 2.

Germany squad V USA (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers: Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart).

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Hanover 96), Patrick Owomoyela (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Manuel Friedrich (FSV Mainz).

Midfielders: Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich), Sebastian Deisler (Bayern Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Fabian Ernst (Schalke 04), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen).

Strikers: Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04), Mike Hanke (VfL Wolfsburg), Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).