Klinsmann calls up Aston Villa star Hitzlsperger

German national coach Jurgen Klinsmann (pictured) has called Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger into his squad for the friendly match with Iran in Tehran on October 9.

Jurgen Klinsmann has called Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger into the German squad for the first time ahead of the friendly match with Iran in Tehran on October 9.

Hitlsperger, 22, has been a regular in the German Under-21 side and Klinsmann believes the midfielder can make the step up after several seasons in the Premier League with Aston Villa.

Hannover defender Per Mertesacker, who turned 20 on Wednesday, is the only other new face in Klismann's squad after impressing for the unfashionable German club this season.

Klinsmann, 40, continues to put an emphasis on youth ahead of the 2006 World Cup on home soil with Chelsea defender Robert Huth, 20, and Bayern Munich full back Andreas Gorlitz, 22, two debutants in the 1-1 draw with World Champions Brazil.

There is still no place for Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann who has not been included since a poor showing in the Euro 2004 campaign.

Bayern Munich goalkeeper Oliver Kahn is also omitted from the squad with Klinsmann insisting he wants to test out the other goalkeepers Jens Lehmann and Timo Hildebrand.

Germany squad

Goalkeepers: Timo Hildebrand (VfB Stuttgart), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal/ENG)

Defenders: Frank Baumann, Frank Fahrenhorst (Werder Bremen), Andreas Hinkel, Philipp Lahm (Stuttgart), Andreas Goerlitz (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Hannover), Robert Huth (Chelsea/ENG)

Midfielders: Michael Ballack, Torsten Fings, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sebastian Deisler (Bayern Munich), Fabian Ernst (Werder Bremen), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Aston Villa/ENG)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen), Thomas Brdaric (VfL Wolfsburg), Lukas Podolski (Cologne), Gerald Asamoah (Schalke 04)