Germany add Sippel and Schindler

Germany coach Dieter Eilts has been forced to shuffle his pack ahead of Tuesday's Under-21 friendly against Belgium in Koblenz after both Manuel Neuer and Aaron Hunt withdrew through injury. Goalkeeper Tobias Sippel and striker Kevin Schindler are called up in their place.

Replacements
FC Schalke 04 goalkeeper Neuer bruised his knee during his side's 4-1 win against VfB Stuttgart on Sunday while Werder Bremen's Hunt, who was recalled for the first time since his last appearance almost exactly a year ago, has a muscle problem. Hamburger SV defender Jerome Boateng has also withdrawn through injury, making room for Hertha BSC Berlin's Pascal Bieler.

Sippel joy
Sippel is called up for the first time following injury to his 1. FC Kaiserslautern team-mate Florian Fromlowitz, who would normally have deputised for Neuer in the U21 side. The 19-year-old admitted his surprise at the call up after being given the news by Kaiserslautern team-mate Fabian Schönheim. "Schöni told me Dieter Eilts would be getting in touch and I thought he was joking," Sippel said. "But soon afterwards Eilts really rang. It is a dream come true. My arm is slightly injured but for Germany it will be no problem."

Polanski rested
Eilts has opted to rest captain Eugen Polanski as he will be unavailable when Germany's qualifying campaign resumes at home to Luxembourg on 25 March. "In central midfield we have a lot of players who are regulars with their clubs and as [Polanski's team VfL Borussia] Mönchengladbach have fixtures at the end of March Eugen will not be available against Luxembourg."

Serious test
Eilts added: "Belgium are very compact and play with great discipline. The players are well educated and physically strong. They proved they belong to the best in Europe in this age group by qualifying for the Olympic Games [after reaching the semi-finals of the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship]." German sights, meanwhile, are set on Sweden, the host nation for the 2009 U21 finals. "Qualification is the primary goal this year," the 43-year-old Eilts said. "We want to get through our group then book a ticket to Sweden by winning in the play-offs." Germany are second in Group 1, two points behind leaders Northern Ireland, but have played two games fewer.

Germany squad:

Goalkeepers:

Defenders: Dennis Aogo (SC Freiburg), Andreas Beck (VfB Stuttgart), Pascal Bieler (Hertha BSC Berlin), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (BV Borussia Dortmund), Fabian Schönheim (1. FC Kaiserslautern), Daniel Schwaab (SC Freiburg).

Midfielders: Patrick Ebert (Hertha BSC Berlin), Sami Khedira (VfB Stuttgart), Marc André Kruska (BV Borussia Dortmund), Marko Marin (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach), Baris Özbek (Galatasaray AS), Mesut Özil (Werder Bremen), Jan Rosenthal (Hannover 96).

Forwards: Ashkan Dejagah (VfL Wolfsburg), Kevin Schindler (Werder Bremen).