ANDREAS Hinkel is not only hoping to ensure Celtic have a future this season in Europe after tonight. The in-form right-back is also seeking to extend his campaign by an extra few weeks as he bids to secure a place in the German squad for next summer's World Cup finals.
Hinkel already has 21 international caps to his name, but has seen his chances of being called up by Joachim Low placed in doubt by a challenge from SV Hamburg's Jerome Boateng, among others. The versatile defender is unlikely to face Hinkel this ev
ening at the HSH Nordbank Arena due to an injury sustained in his side's weekend defeat to Borussia Moenchengladbach, but he remains a threat to the Celtic defender's international ambitions.
Hinkel must also have concerns about playing his trade so far from Low's radar in the Scottish Premier League. Tonight offers him the chance to remind Germans what he can do, and the 27 year-old intends to take it.
"Of course I understand I might be judged on this game," he said. "All Germany can watch it. But it is just one game. It is not enough to judge anyone, and decide whether he is good enough or not good enough. It is an important game for me since it is in Germany. Everyone can see the game. But I don't think it's the end for me, or otherwise."
He added: "We have a lot of options at right-back. I hope I am one. Like I have always said, I just need to keep performing to my best. That is all I can do."
Hinkel has a good feeling for Hamburg as a city, and when a player with Stuttgart would regularly visit, and not just for professional reasons. He smiled as he recalled travelling to see the Lion King performed here, but has fond footballing memories of the city too.
"I played one of the first games of my career in Hamburg," he said. "It's a special place. I like Hamburg as a city, not just for football. It's very cultural.
"Hamburg's stadium is a good one. Back in 1998 it was one of the first cities to build a new stadium. After that all the cities built one. The dressing rooms are huge compared to those in Scotland, such as at the old St Mirren ground."
Hinkel, who will be watched tonight by his parents and brother Markus, missed the first game against Hamburg due to injury, but has quickly regained his place from Mark Wilson.
"It was a tight game," he said of the first match at Celtic Park, which saw the hosts defeated 1-0. "We had enough chances to score. All the European ties we have played so far have been very tight. We could have won the game in Israel, and against Rapid Vienna as well. But against Hamburg they took their chance and scored. But we had enough chances to score as well.
"They are a quality side. We saw that in the first game. They scored without having many chances.
"We have to concentrate. I have to first do my job then I can maybe think about doing something for the team in attack."
