Berlin, April 23, IRNA -- A 17-year-old Iranian teenager is to become one of the youngest German Bundesliga players ever after being called up into the line-up of first division team Hertha Berlin for its crucial home match against FC Kaiserslautern on Saturday.

A member of Hertha Berlin's amateur division, Ashkan Dejagah, has received a special permit by the German Football League (DFL) to play as a striker for Hertha's professional squad, Ashkan's mother confirmed to IRNA on Friday.

"Ashkan has begun to train with the pro-team and will be in the line-up for Saturday's match against Kaiserslautern," Ashkan's Iranian mother told IRNA.

"He is looking forward to the game and does not appear too nervous about it," she added.

Ashkan who has also been invited to Germany's under-19 national football team, is to sign a two-year professional contract with Berlin this summer.

The Iranian teenage star player comes from a "football family" as his father played for Iranian first division club Esteghlal (formerly known as Taj) before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

... Payvand News - 4/23/04 ... --