dpa
Dortmund, Germany
Germany’s football coach Hansi Flick has given Werder Bremen striker Niclas
Fullkrug hope of a World Cup call-up.
He is the Bundesliga’s top scorer with eight goals so far for the promoted side, who beat Hoffenheim 2-1 on Friday thanks to his late strike.
Germany lack options at centre forward and the uncapped 29-year-old is not out of the running for November and December’s tournament in Qatar.
"I saw him yesterday. What he’s doing has a lot going for it. We still have a little time. He is on a run, he’s doing well... He brings certain qualities that we don’t have,” Flick told Sky on Saturday before Borussia Dortmund took on Bayern Munich.
Flick also continues to have 2014 World Cup winner Mats Hummels of Dortmund in his sights despite not having been called up for months.
"Mats and I talk. What we say remains between us. He has very good form this season. You can see he’s fit. I’m pleased that he’s at a very good level,” Flick stressed.
Portugal winger Neto to misss World Cup due to injury
Meanwhile, Wolves and Portugal winger Pedro Neto needs ankle surgery and will miss the World Cup.
The 22-year-old was forced off in the 24th minute of last weekend’s Premier League defeat at West Ham after suffering the injury and specialists have deemed he needs to go under the knife.
A statement on Wolves’ website read: "Pedro sustained an ankle injury against West Ham on Saturday where he strained the lateral ligaments.
"Following further evaluation and a specialist opinion this week, it is planned for him to undergo surgery. This means that, unfortunately, he will not be fit for the upcoming World Cup.”
It is a major blow for Neto, who received his first call-up to the senior Portugal team in November 2020 and has won three caps.
He missed 10 months of action with a serious knee injury picked up playing for Wolves in April 2021 but has started every Premier League match this season.
He was part of the Portugal squad for recent games against the Czech Republic and Spain but was not given any minutes.
It is also more bad news for Wolves, who sit in the bottom three and are searching for a new manager after the West Ham loss spelled the end for Bruno Lage.