Along with national team-mates Michael Ballack and Carsten Ramelow, he has shone in Bayer Leverkusen's stunning Champions League run.

And his performances have not been missed by the German coaching staff who identified him as the answer on the right of midfield.

He made his debut relatively late, just before his 26th birthday, and he only made two appearances out of a possible 10 in qualifying.

But his strong performances in the play-offs against Ukraine won Voeller over.