Big two return for Germans

Ballack and Frings back in

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Fit again Michael Ballack and midfield colleague Torsten Frings return to Germany's squad for the World Cup qualifiers with Russia and Wales.

Ballack and Frings both missed the opening qualifiers with Liechtenstein and Finland, but they now return and both should expect to start each game.

Werder Bremen's Frings broke his nose playing basketball while Chelsea star Ballack withdrew with a foot injury last time.

Along with Ballack and Frings Rene Adler, Arne Friedrich and Jermaine Jones have been recalled by coach Joachim Low - who has also called-up Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrick Helmes.

"We expect big things of Patrick Helmes in the future," said Low.

"He has proved what potential he has and has been impressive for his club in recent weeks."

There is no place in the squad for Real Madrid defender Christoph Metzelder.

Squad in full

Robert Enke (Hanover), Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke, Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Jermaine Jones (Schalke), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Bayer Leverkusen), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich)