Germany coach Joachim Low has recalled Lukas Podolski, Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Robert Enke for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Wales
Germany coach Joachim Low has recalled Lukas Podolski, Arne Friedrich, Marcell Jansen and Robert Enke for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Wales.
Podolski, who was a star for Germany at Euro 2008, returns to the international set-up after missing last month's against Norway due to injury.
Low is delighted to see Podolski back in form again.
"It is very pleasing to see Lukas playing a big role again at FC Bayern," he said.
"Independent of that, we would have invited him for both these international games anyway because we have always said that Lukas is a valuable striker for us when he is in a full training routine.
"We have a lot of faith in him."
Podolski should lead the Germany attack against Liechtenstein in Leipzig on Saturday March 28 and in Cardiff against Wales four days later in the absence of his injured club colleague Miroslav Klose.
Klose is out for six weeks after picking up an ankle injury in Bayern's 3-0 win over Bochum last weekend.
Jansen returns after some impressive performances in the Bundesliga for Hamburg, although Low intends to use him in the midfield and not in his natural defensive position.
"He has been called up for our midfield because Piotr Trochowski has a knock and there is a question mark over his involvement," explained the Germany coach.
"We will certainly speak with HSV again at the weekend to see how his fitness levels are."
Trochowski has nonetheless been included in the list of 23 players, which also includes Hoffenheim's Andreas Beck and Wolfsburg's Marcel Schafer, who both made their debuts last month.
"When you have two international games, we usually call a few other players up," said Low.
"For Marcel Schafer and Andreas Beck, who have just celebrated their first calls to the national team, this is a good opportunity to prove themselves once again.
"Furthermore, I am delighted that Robert Enke is fit again.
"He has quickly rediscovered his old form in the Bundesliga after a three-month injury lay-off and proven his ability."
Hannover goalkeeper Enke joins current first choice Rene Adler and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese in the party for next week's double-header.
The Germany squad will meet in Leipzig next Monday to begin preparations.
After facing Liechtenstein in front of a sell-out crowd at Leipzig's Zentralstadion, they travel to Cardiff, where they face Wales on April 1.
Germany squad: Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Robert Enke (Hannover), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen); Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke), Marcel Schafer (Wolfsburg), Andreas Hinkel (Celtic), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Andreas Beck (Hoffenheim); Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Marko Marin (Borussia Monchengladbach); Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Bayer Leverkusen), Stefan Kiessling (Bayer Leverkusen).
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