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Germany captain Michael Ballack is in the squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan on August 12 after overcoming a toe injury but fellow midfielder Torsten Frings has been dropped.

Ballack left his club Chelsea's pre-season tour in the US last month after fracturing his toe in July 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 a 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.

Germany lead European Group 4 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," added Loew. "I am convinced we have picked those players who can be successful in Baku."

Brazilian-born striker Cacau is set for his competitive Germany debut after he was named in the 20-man squad.

The 28-year-old Stuttgart striker, who moved to Germany aged 19, has two caps that he picked up in friendlies against the UAE and China in May.

Werder Bremen playmaker Mesut Ozil, 20, was also included after his impressive performances for the U21 side in their European Championships triumph in Sweden in June.

The former Schalke man has played once for the seniors, in a 1-0 friendly defeat to Norway in February.

Germany squad for the 2010 World Cup qualifier in Azerbaijan on August 12:

Goalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hanover), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen)

Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcel Schaefer (Wolfsburg), Serdar Tasci (Stuttgart), Heiko Westermann (Schalke)

Midfield: Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Christian Gentner (VfL Wolfsburg), Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg), Sami Khedira (Stuttgart), Mesut Ozil (Werder Bremen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg )

Strikers: Cacau (Stuttgart), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Cologne)

Reuters