Bayer Leverkusen defender Jens Nowotny has been unexpectedly invited by German head coach Jürgen Klinsmann to take part in World Cup fitness tests next week.

The 32-year-old, who has 45 international caps to his name, has
suffered a series of knee injuries and has not played for the World Cup hosts since 2004.

But the Leverkusen defender has impressed Germany’s management team since returning to the Bundesliga side in February.

Nowotny, who was also sidelined for nearly a year whilst he was involved in a contract dispute with Leverkusen, has helped his side climb to fifth place in the German Bundesliga and will relish the chance to represent Germany again.

“We’ve been watching Jens closely in recent weeks and have been quite impressed with his performance,” said coach Jürgen Klinsmann’s assistant Joachim Loew in a statement on Friday. “We now want to take a closer look in the fitness tests.”

Klinsmann, who must pick his final 23-man squad by the May 15 deadline, will use the get-together to assess a total of eighteen World Cup candidates, who will take part in the tests in Düsseldorf on Monday and Tuesday.

Most of Germany’s regular players will be in Duesseldorf except those from Bayern Munich, who play Eintracht Frankfurt in next week’s German Cup final, and Schalke 04, who face Sevilla in Thursday’s UEFA Cup semi-final second leg.

Also unavailable is Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who will be missing due to the Champions League semi-final second leg against Villarreal.

Werder Bremen midfielder Torsten Frings has been excused because of injury.

Germany have been drawn in Group A alongside Poland, Costa Rica and Ecuador in the Finals which begin on June 9.

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