Huth joins casualty list, Podolski doubtful

Defender Robert Huth will probably miss Germany's friendly against Turkey in Istanbul today, while striker Lukas Podolski is a doubt.

Huth, the Chelsea centre-back, has been kept out of training in the build-up to the game with a muscle injury and he is not expected to recover in time.

"I assume he won't be available," said assistant coach Joachim Loew. "He hasn't trained normally in the last few days."

The injury is a blow to Huth, who is attempting to convince coach Juergen Klinsmann he deserves a place at the 2006 World Cup despite a lack of regular action at Chelsea.

Germany have already lost captain Michael Ballack and striker Miroslav Klose for the game in Istanbul because of illness. Podolski, who scored a hat-trick in Germany's 4-2 win over South Africa last month, may also miss out.

"At the moment he has thigh trouble," Loew said. "Podolski will only play if he's fully recovered."

Germany, the World Cup hosts, should have at least Ballack and Klose back by the time they take on China in the latest in a long line of friendlies in Hamburg on Wednesday.