Germany midfielder Serge Gnabry has admitted that he thought a radio station was playing a prank on him when boss Joachim Low called to tell him he was in the squad.

The 21-year-old, who left Arsenal for Werder Bremen this summer, became the first player to score a hat-trick on his national debut in 40 years in a 8-0 win away to San Marino.

"The coach called me and I had to consider for a while whether it was real or not," Gnabry is quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

"There have been a lot of these fake calls on the radio and I just didn't want to be the next victim."

Gnabry made just 18 appearances for the Gunners during his five years in North London, scoring one goal.