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Emre Can is likely to start for Germany on Monday as the Liverpool midfielder’s long season continues in Russia.

Germany take on Australia in their opener in the Confederations Cup tournament, the traditional method for World Cup hosts to prepare for the following year’s competition.

Can’s Germany are grouped with the Socceroos as well as Chile and Africa Cup of Nations winners Cameroon. The other group features host Russia, who beat New Zealand in their opening game on Saturday, alongside Portugal and Mexico, in a tournament which features the champions from every continent.

Germany coach Joachim Low has brought a young squad, leaving behind a host of experienced stars such as Toni Kroos, Mats Hummels, Mesut Ozil and Marco Reus through either injury or the need for rest.

That means the likelihood of plenty of opportunities for Can who now has 10 international caps for the world champions. He started the recent World Cup qualifier against minnows San Marino and came off the bench in the friendly against Denamrk.

(Image: (Photo by Alexander Scheuber/Bongarts/Getty Images))

Despite Germany’s relatively young team, they remain among the favourites for the tournament which doesn’t finish until early July.

Germany start at 4pm on Monday against Australia in Sochi before taking on Alexis Sanchez’s Chile in Kazan at 9pm on Thursday.

They complete their group games against Cameroon at 4pm next Sunday (Jun 25) back in Sochi.

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If Joachim Low’s men progress to the knock-out stages the semi-finals are played on June 28 and 29 with the final on July 2 in St Petersburg.

That means Can will once again miss the start of Liverpool’s pre-season, just as he did last year as Germany reached the semi-final of Euro 2016.

The midfielder is likely to be given about three weeks off by Liverpool, meaning he would most likely return to the Reds line-up for the Audi Cup, in his homeland, in a competition involving Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and AC Milan.

Can is yet to sign a new Liverpool contract, with his current deal running out at the end of next season. Reports in Italy - Can has been linked with a move to Juventus - that the 23-year-old would sign a new £100,000 a week deal with the Reds by the end of this week were premature.

(Image: Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

Among Can’s team mates in the Germany line-up is likely to be Bayer Leverkusen winger Julian Brandt, a man Liverpool were keen to bring to Anfield in January.

Asked about Can - who joined the Reds from Leverkusen himself in 2014 - Brandt said: “I like him a lot as a footballer because he has a street footballer quality. It was a shame he moved so soon.”

Another team mate, Julian Draxler, said of Can: “He’s very positive, I like him a lot. He’s a fighter, a machine, very strong in the tackle.

“He’s also unintentionally very fuinny. I have a good laugh with him and at him!”

Can made 31 appearances for Liverpool last season despite a troublesome calf problem, scoring five goals.