Germany coach Joachim Loew has appointed Hans-Dieter Flick as his assistant ahead of the opening Euro 2008 qualifier with the Republic of Ireland in Stuttgart on Saturday week.

The appointment of the 41-year-old is something of a surprise as most of Flick's coaching has been done in the lower leagues.

He worked with German third division side TSG Hoffenheim for five years until he was sacked last year and most recently was assistant at Red Bull Salzburg in Austria.

"He embodies the attack style of football that we were looking for," said Loew, who was assistant to former manager Juergen Klinsmann during the World Cup.

Shay Given is likely to miss Newcastle's Uefa Cup qualifying clash with Ventspils tomorrow because of a reoccurring back injury but expects to be fully fit in time for Stuttgart.

"We are going to Germany to win the game but obviously a point would be a fantastic result also.  They look really good and it's going to be a tough game," says the goalkeeper.

Given missed the heavy defeat to Holland because of his back injury but feels Ireland are now better equipped to face Loew's side.

"You can't dwell on what happened against Holland, obviously everyone was disappointed with the result, myself included.  It was hard to watch.

"But there was a lot of players missing from the team that will probably start in Germany, so we've got to focus on the Germany game and forget about the Dutch.

"Put it down as a bad day at the office and look at the positive things we can do in Germany."