German second-tier club St Pauli improvised when their manager Ewald Lienen was unable to attend the unveiling of their new signing – using a man in an Ewald Lienen mask instead.

Club officials, who were announcing the deal for 22-year-old Borussia Dortmund striker Marvin Ducksch, came up with the solution when Lienen missed the press conference, but the ruse was quickly spotted online.

St Pauli then confirmed a body double had been used, tweeting a close up of the mask, and calling it a “one-off”.

The club released a quote from the real Lienen, who said: “With Marvin we get an attacker who has good technique and a very good end product.” Ducksch added: “I am looking forward to the challenge at St Pauli.”