THE WIRTZ IS BEHIND HIM

Hero of Istanbul Didi Hamann backs countryman Florian to find form and hit double figures for goals this season

- BY KIERAN CUNNNGHAM

LIVERPOOL are trying to figure out how to get the most out of their expensive summer signing from Germany, Florian Wirtz.

But there was a time when Reds players were scratching their heads at a German teammate and it was nothing to do with Didi Hamann's price tag or his form.

It's thanks to Jamie Carragher's autobiography that we got wind of one of the great Hamann stories.

Following his arrival from Newcastle United, as part of his initiation rite, Hamann was taken out on the town by his teammates. It was a memorable night...

"If ever a player defied your expectations of German footballers, it's Didi," wrote Carragher.

"We took him out for a night in the city centre, expecting to be out with a quiet, shy Germany bloke.

"By the end of the evening, such preconceptions were well and truly quashed.

"As we left a club, Didi announced he knew the perfect way to get us a taxi.

"We watched in horror as our £9m midfielder lay in the middle of Liverpool's lively Castle Street in the hope or expectation a motorist would slam on the brakes rather than kill him.

"Thankfully, a bemused driver obliged. 'I'll give you fifty pounds to take me home, Didi said to the shocked target.

"'Where do you live?' 'I haven't got a clue,' Didi replied. 'I've only just arrived here.'

"To this day, I've no idea how he got to his flat that night, or where he told the driver to take him."