Ballack gets Germany call-up

Germany captain Michael Ballack is in the squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan on Wednesday after overcoming a toe injury but fellow midfielder Torsten Frings has been dropped.

Ballack left his club Chelsea's pre-season tour in the United States last month after fracturing his toe but appears to have fully recovered.

Germany coach Joachim Loew dropped Frings in favour of Stuttgart captain Thomas Hitzlsperger who was outstanding last season, but said if Frings had an injury free-season he would still be an important part of the team next year.

Loew also picked Hanover's Robert Enke and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese as his goalkeepers, dropping Manuel Neuer and Rene Adler but said this was not a final decision for his two choices in the position.

"At the moment we have four good goalkeepers and in the next matches in September there could be a different selection," Loew said yesterday.

Germany lead European Group Four by a point from Russia and Loew said he was banking on experience against Azerbaijan because, with the Bundesliga season starting only this weekend, players would not have sufficient match practice.

"It is for this reason that we decided to bank on players who we know," said Loew.

"I am convinced we have picked those players who can be successful in Baku."

Azerbaijan have one point from five games in the group.