Loew calls up Hunt and Mueller for friendlies

HAMBURG - Aaron Hunt and Thomas Mueller were called up for the first time by Germany coach Joachim Loew Friday for friendly internationals against Chile and Ivory Coast later this month.

Werder Bremen’s Hunt, 23, and the 20-year-old Bayern Munich starlet Mueller have been impressive in the Bundesliga and in Europe in the recent months leading to their being part of a 24-player squad. Both players are attacking midfielders.

Stefan Kiessling from Bayer Leverkusen returns to the squad for the games on Nov 14 in Cologne against Chile and Nov 18 in Gelsenkirchen against Ivory Coast.

Missing due to injury are Simon Rolfes of Bayer Leverkusen and the VfB Stuttgart duo of Cacau and Serdar Tasci.

Loew had announced Mueller’s nomination a few weeks ago which drew some angry reactions from Munich as the club did not want an early call-up for the youngster.

But Loew said that Mueller will first be with the under-21 team for a Euro qualifier against Northern Ireland on November 13 and then join the A team roster for the Ivory Coast game.

“Thomas is to get a first impression with us for three or four days, to get to know the national team atmosphere,” said Loew.

Looking at Hunt, Loew said: “We have the opportunity to give him a chance now. Aaron has been very stable this season and has made a step forward with good showings.”

Loew also confirmed that Bremen’s Tim Wiese will be the goalkeeper against Chile and that Schalke’s Manuael Neuer will be between the posts in his home stadium against Ivory Coast.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen) Manuel Neuer (Schalke 04), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen).

Defenders: Andreas Beck (TSG Hoffenheim), Jerome Boateng (SV Hamburg), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen),Marcel Schaefer (VfL Wolfsburg), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Christian Gentner (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Aaron Hunt (Werder Bremen), Marko Marin (Werder Bremen), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (SV Hamburg).

Forwards: Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne).