Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has received backing from an unlikely source, with Bayern Munich general manager Uli Hoeness singing his praises at the weekend.
It was Hoeness who bitterly fought with the German Football Association (DFB) to get Oliver Kahn picked as Germany's number one for the last World Cup - a battle he eventually lost as Lehmann got the nod from Jurgen Klinsmann.
However, now Kahn is off the scene, Hoeness seems to be throwing his weight behind Lehmann in the race for the number one jersey at next year's European Championships.
"Lehmann has got to play at Euro 2008, even if he does not play one more game for Arsenal until then," Hoeness told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper.
"It is unfair and inappropriate to doubt Lehmann - he is an excellent goalkeeper."
Hoeness' backing is surprising since he has a player in his Bayern Munich squad who he is pushing to become the new Germany number one.
Michael Rensing, 23, has already been designated the successor of Kahn at club level and is currently playing while the elder statesman recovers from an elbow injury.
While Rensing is getting regular match practice, Lehmann was not even on the Arsenal bench for Saturday's 2-0 win over Bolton.
But the 37-year-old insisted: "It is only up from here and I will force my way through."
SportingLife