Wolfsburg have given a full-time contract to youngster Bjarne Thoelke, who could make his debut for the 2009 champions in Saturday's Bundesliga match against Nurnberg. The 19-year-old was part of the Wolfsburg squad for the first time ten days ago when they were beaten by Bayer Leverkusen and he could find himself in the starting XI this weekend as coach Felix Magath is without the injured Sotirios Kyrgiakos and Marco Russ.

Thoelke today signed a three-year contract just two days after Maximilian Arnold was promoted from the youth ranks. "Bjarne Thoelke is a talented youngster with a Bundesliga future," said Magath in a press release from his club. "He has what it takes to make the step up into the first team in his position and it is just a shame that he was injured in pre-season otherwise he would have signed on a lot sooner."

Thoelke, who picked up a stress fracture in his foot prior to the start of the season, said: "I am delighted to be able to start my professional career at Wolfsburg. It is a huge motivation for me and I really would like to advance step by step."