PULA (Italy), May 20: Veteran German defender Jens Nowotny will be key to how the younger German players perform at the World Cup finals, claimed national coach Jurgen Klinsmann on Saturday.

The 32-year-old was a surprise selection in Klinsmann's squad having not played for the national side since Euro 2004 and a longstanding knee injury had kept him out of action till February this year.

However Klinsmann insisted that 45-times capped Nowotny, who is leaving Bayer Leverkusen as he says he wants to finish his career playing abroad, merited his place.

“Jens is not only an important player in terms of his experience, but also in his influence on the squad,” said Klinsmann, speaking at a training camp for the team.

“Along with Oliver Kahn, Jens must pass on his experience and his advice to the younger players. He knows exactly what role he must play around them.”

However Klinsmann said that did not mean Nowotny would be a certain starter when the hosts get their finals underway on June 9 against Group A rivals Costa Rica in Munich.

“Everyone must show during the training sessions and the warm-up matches that they deserve their place in the team,” said the former German international striker, who won the World Cup as a player with the then West Germany.

Kahn, who has been displaced as first choice keeper by Jens Lehmann, agreed with Klinsmann over Nowotny.

“It is very important that Jens should be there, he can bring stability and security to our young defenders,” said Kahn, who was goalkeeper in the 2002 World Cup final defeat by Brazil.

Nowotny was out injured from 2002 to 2004 with a serious knee problem - which he suffered in the 2002 Champions League semifinal with Manchester United and meant he missed both the final and the World Cup finals.

He still took the club to court claiming unpaid wages and an unpaid loyalty bonus due to him when he signed a contract extension in 2002.

The case was finally settled 'amicably' in 2005.

The defender has had his knee operated on four times during his career.

Germany are due to go on Sunday to a training camp in Switzerland and stay there till the end of May.

Aside from Costa Rica Germany's other group rivals are Poland and Ecuador.—AFP