Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is to return to the international arena after being called up to the Germany squad.
Chelsea midfielder returns for his country
Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack is to return to the international arena after being called up to the Germany squad for their friendly against Austria next Wednesday.
The 31-year-old has been blighted by injury since his previous appearance for Germany back in March last year, but is now ready to return.
Ballack has recovered from the ankle injuries that kept him out for much of last year and coach Joachim Loew included him in a 20-man squad for the game in Vienna.
"We're delighted that Michael is completely fit once again," Loew said in a statement. "He's been very strong for Chelsea since making his comeback."
Full squad
Timo Hildebrand (Valencia), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal), Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen),
Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Jermaine Jones (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski
(Bayern Munich), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV), Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach).
