Germany manager Jurgen Klinsmann

Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has selected uncapped midfielder David Odonkor for his 23-man World Cup squad.

The 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund youngster was called up but striker Kevin Kuranyi has been dropped.

New Chelsea signing Michael Ballack is captain and joins club team-mate Robert Huth, while Arsenal's Jens Lehmann will be the team's number one goalkeeper.

Klinsmann has dropped Fabian Ernst and Patrick Owomoyela but has called up Jens Nowotny to shore up his defence.

Striker Mike Hanke has also been selected, despite the fact he will miss the first two games of the competition because of the red card he received at last summer's Confederations Cup.

But it was Odonkor who stole the headlines as he had never been publicly discussed as a candidate.

"We had our very first contact today," Klinsmann confirmed.

"But naturally we got plenty of information about him from under-21 coach Dieter Eilts. We've had our eye on him for the last six months but didn't want to include him too soon to keep the pressure off him."

Odonkor, who can run 100 metres in 10.9 seconds, was added as replacement for Bayern Munich's injured midfielder Sebastian Deisler.

"He's a great talent and brings something we urgently need - speed, the unexpected and someone who can sprint to the goal line and give us a cross from deep in the corner.

"We believe that he can help us with his cheekiness, something we're missing," he added of Odonkor, who played 15 matches for the under-21 team and scored three goals.

Germany kick off their World Cup campaign on June 9 in Munich against Costa Rica.

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

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Robert Huth (Chelsea, England), Marcell Jansen (Borussia Monchengladbach), Per Mertesacker (Hannover), Christoph Metzelder (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen).

Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Chelsea, England), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), David Odonkor (Borussia Dortmund).