Loew considering Kuranyi return

(GSM) – Germany coach Joachim Loew will discuss the future of Kevin Kuranyi with his coaching staff this week.

Kuranyi has not featured in the national team setup after the striker walked out on his team-mates during the interval of a World Cup qualifier against Russia in October 2008.

The Schalke 04 player felt aggrieved to be left out of the 18-man squad for the game, and his walkout prompted Loew to say he would ‘never player for Germany again as long as I remain coach’.

That could all change after growing support for the 28-year-old to be reinstated for the World Cup finals in South Africa meant Loew would discuss the prospect in a meeting with his backroom staff on Monday.

The 50-year-old chief told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag: “We three coaches (Loew, Hans-Dieter Flick and Andreas Kopke) and Urs Siegenthaler (chief scout) are going to meet for three days from Monday in the Black Forest to discuss many things, including personnel.

“We will certainly talk about Kuranyi because Kuranyi is a current issue. We will discuss it.”

Kuranyi is the top scorer in the Bundesliga this season and first choice front men Miroslav Klose and Lukas Podolski are struggling to find form.

The former Stuttgart front man has netted 18 goals and Loew said his fate for the June showpiece would be known before he names his 23-man squad.

Loew will name a preliminary squad on 6th May, although he then has one more month before having to hand his official list of 23 players to Fifa.

“Now is not the time to talk about it in public,” he added. “We are discussing things internally and will make our decision known in time.

“We will do that with all of our players, but clearly a decision over Kuranyi will be made before May 6. That means, not on the very day we name our squad.”