Stuttgart's Undav left hanging over Germany call despite strong form

VfB Stuttgart striker Deniz Undav is one of the form players in the Bundesliga, yet a recall to the Germany squad on Thursday is still uncertain despite a dearth of other forwards at Julian Nagelsmann's disposal.

Undav has scored in five straight Bundesliga games and is the second top scorer in the league with 16 goals behind Bayern Munich's England captain Harry Kane on 30.

"Maybe there has been contact, maybe not. But there are a few days before Thursday so I'm relaxed," Undav told DAZN after scoring the only goal in a 1-0 win over RB Leipzig on Sunday, which consolidated Stuttgart's hope of a Bundesliga top-four finish.

But Nagelsmann recently hinted there may be some surprise omissions in his squad for the friendlies against Switzerland on March 27 and Ghana three days later.

Any player missing out can expect to also not be on the plane to North America for June and July's World Cup.

Media reports have speculated Undav could be the unlucky man, despite Tim Kleindienst being injured, Nick Woltemade being out of form and Jonathan Burkardt and Kai Havertz only getting back to full fitness.

The Ghana game though is also in Stuttgart, which would seem to help Undav's cause if Nagelsmann does not want angry fans on his back, having ignored the former Brighton man for his last three squads.

The 29-year-old picked up the last of his six caps in June.

Germany World Cup winner and former Stuttgart star Sami Khedira is adamant Undav has to earn a recall and Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth has also backed his player

"It is not like Deniz has only been hot these last four, six or eight weeks, he scores for us every week," he said. "It is not just on the pitch, off it he is a very important player too."