Lehmann's World Cup hopes rest on return next season

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has warned Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann he will need to be playing regularly next season if he is to stand a chance of appearing at the 2006 World Cup. Lehmann lost his Arsenal place to Spaniard Manuel Almunia late...

Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann has warned Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann he will need to be playing regularly next season if he is to stand a chance of appearing at the 2006 World Cup.

Lehmann lost his Arsenal place to Spaniard Manuel Almunia late last year and his chances of beating Oliver Kahn to the number one spot in the Germany team have been hit as a result.

"I called Lehmann last week and told him that for the rest of this season it doesn't matter what role he has," Klinsmann said.

"He made no mistakes in the first half of the season and the situation is simply down to Arsene Wenger's personal opinion.

"But he needs to be number one again by next season at the latest. That could be in the Premier League, the Bundesliga or anywhere."

Lehmann returned to the Arsenal side for Sunday's FA Cup win over Stoke City but is expected to be back on the bench when his team visit Bolton Wanderers in the Premier League on Saturday.

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