Jonathan Klinsmann picked to make his European debut on Thursday

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Dec 6, 2017

Jonathan Klinsmann, who started in goal for the USA at the 2017 Under-20 World Cup in South Korea, is set to make his debut for Bundesliga club Hertha Berlin on Thursday in the Europa League.

The match against Sweden's Ostersunds FK is the Group finale. It will be Hertha's last match of the competition as it is already eliminated.

"[Goalkeeping coach] Zsolt Petry decides who plays in goal and he has convinced me," Hertha coach Pal Dardai said on Wednesday. "Klinsmann has continued to develop and has shown great body language. We can put him to the test tomorrow. Thomas Kraft is ill and Rune Jarstein will not be available. Jonathan will play in goal."

Klinsmann left the University of California after two seasons to try his luck in Germany, where his father, former U.S. national team coach Jurgen Klinsmann, played on and later coached its national team.

Jonathan Klinsmann impressed in the quarterfinal match of the U-20 World Cup, where the USA lost to Venezuela, 2-1, in overtime.

Until now, he has only played for Hertha Berlin II in the Regionalliga, the fourth level of German soccer. He dress for three first-team games in the Europa League.

California connection. Another Californian keeper, 18-year-old Brady Scott, is in his first season at FC Cologne, where he has also been playing for its second team in the Regionalliga.