World Cup 2018: 5 Under-23 players who could spearhead Germany’s World Cup defence

#3 Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)

Sule's versatility makes him an important member of the German squad

Age: 22

Position: Centre-Back

Like Kimmich and Werner, Niklas Sule heads into the World Cup after a good run of games for his club. Jerome Boateng’s injury allowed the impressive Sule to consolidate his place in the Bayern Munich side this season, after a move from 1899 Hoffenheim.

Sule made 27 appearances for Bayern in Bundesliga this season, often in positions that aren’t familiar to him. His 6-feet-five-inch frame might deceive you into thinking he is another Per Mertesacker, but Sule is equally adept at playing in the midfield.

He is an aggressive tackler, comfortable on the ball, and has an array of passes, all which might come in handy with the German squad looking thin in the midfield with just Sami Khedira and Sebastian Rudy capable of playing the defensive, central-midfield role.

Sule can also play as a full-back, as highlighted by his noteworthy performance marking the fast Leon Bailey in Bayern’s 6-2 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the DFB Cup in April.

It remains to be seen where Loew fancies playing the big Bayern defender but with Boateng still recovering from an injury, Sule will be in contention to start in central defence with his Bayern Munich team-mate Mats Hummels.