Preston North End Striker Patrick Agyemang is hoping that his height advantage will gain him a place in the Ghana squad for the World Cup in June.

25-year-old Agyemang is battling with four others for one of the four places expected to be reserved for strikers in the Black Stars squad at the Finals in Germany.

The England-born player was chosen by Black Stars’ coach Ratomir Dujkovic to feature in Ghana's squad for their friendly against fellow World Cup finalists Mexico in March, which Ghana lost 1-0.

This earned Agyemang his second international cap, three years after his first cap was earned in a friendly against Nigeria in Abuja and the striker is hoping that his height advantage will keep him in the running for a World Cup place.

At 6ft 1in (1.85m), Agyemang is far taller than his fellow attacking players Matthew Amoah, Asamoah Gyan, Isaac Boakye and Baba Adamu, who average 5ft 8in.

Ghana will be facing Italy, Czech Republic and the USA in Group E at the World Cup, who all feature tall players.

Italy's first choice-defenders, AC Milan veteran Paolo Maldini, Christian Panucci, Fabio Cannavaro and Alessandro Nesta average 6ft 1in in height, while Czech striker Jan Koller is one of the tallest players in the game standing at 6ft 7in.

Agyemang, who has scored six goals for his Championship club-side this season, feels that this may give him the nod for the final squad.

“When I look at the squad I realise I am the tallest player in the Ghana squad,” Agyemang told BBC Sport.

“And as we will be coming up against teams with big defenders at the World Cup, we need the presence of someone like me who will win the headers in the opponents' area, score goals and create chances for the other strikers.”

He believes that the current squad of Black Star players may well cause a shock in this summer’s tournament and is looking forward to the challenge.

“I realise the squad I played with three years ago has changed.

“The current crop of players have taken the game to another level with guys like Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien and Sammy Kuffuor.

“A lot of people regard us as the underdogs of the group but will we will shock them and go very far in Germany.”

Ghana open their Group E campaign against Italy on 12 June, before taking on the Czech Republic on 17 June and the USA in their last group match on June 22.

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