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Tah in for Rüdiger

Ross DunbarJune 8, 2016

Bayer Leverkusen center back Jonathan Tah has been drafted in to replace Antonio Rüdiger, who picked up a knee injury in training. Tah has only won one cap for his country.

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Deutschland Fußball Nationalmannschaft Jonathan Tah
Image: picture-alliance/augenklick/rauchensteiner

Germany coach Joachim Löw has confirmed that Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah will replace the injured Antonio Rüdiger in the Euro 2016 squad.

The 20-year-old made his international debut against England this year - his only cap for the world champions. But Tah's growing maturity at club side Bayer Leverkusen has convinced Joachim Löw to select him for the European Championships.

With Mats Hummels struggling to recover from a calf problem, Antonio Rüdiger went down on Tuesday's training session. Scans later revealed the former Stuttgart center-back had ruptured knee ligaments.

"We decided last night that Tah would join the team," said Löw at a press conference in Evian. "Tah has completed an individual training routine for the last three weeks. Tah is very professional and isn't lazy on holiday. He will be ready in a few days."

Tah is a product of Hamburg's youth academy, making his professional debut in 2013. After a loan spell at Fortuna Düsseldorf, Tah was plucked from relative obscurity by Leverkusen, a club known for its ability to develop talent. He joined for around 5 million euros ($6 million) and is now a first-team regular.

"He is a young player with a lot of potential. He is physically strong and very fast," head coach Löw said before his first call-up in March. "It was a remarkable nomination, thoroughly deserved," added Leverkusen c9oach Roger Schmidt.

Hummels is expected to miss Sunday's opener against Ukraine, but should be available for the final group matches against Poland and Northern Ireland.