Uncapped Mitroglou called up by Greece for Cup playoff

Athens: Greece coach Otto Rehhagel sprang a surprise on Monday by handing young striker Kostas Mitroglou a first international call for the 2010 World Cup playoff against Ukraine.

Mitroglou, 21, has been rewarded for a string of impressive early-season displays for Greek champions Olympiakos. Greece, who claimed second spot in qualifying Group Two after securing back-to-back victories over Latvia and Luxembourg last month, face Ukraine at the Olympic Stadium in Athens on Saturday before travelling to Donetsk for the return leg four days later.The winner of the tie earns a place in next year`s finals in South Africa. "I`m delighted that Mr. Rehhagel invited me to represent the national team," Mitroglou told the Greek football federation`s website. "I want to help the team as much as I can in the two very difficult and crucial matches coming up." Mitroglou, a regular for the under-21 side since 2007, is likely to start on the bench as Nuremberg striker Angelos Charisteas, who missed his country`s final two qualifiers due to a thigh injury, is back in the squad.The former Ajax man will compete for a starting place in the Greek attack with Celtic`s Giorgos Samaras, Theofanis Gekas and Dimitris Salpigidis. Another exciting youngster included in Rehhagel`s squad is PAOK Salonica forward Vasilis Koutsianikoulis, who replaces injured Eintracht Frankfurt striker Ioannis Amanatidis. Bureau Report