VIENNA, Austria — Austria striker Marc Janko will return to the national team for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Germany and Ireland despite not playing for Trabzonspor since February.
Janko missed this month’s friendly against Greece with a muscle injury but has been included in the 23-man squad announced Tuesday by Austria coach Marcel Koller.
“Janko has proven many times he can score on international level,” said Koller, who usually overlooks players who are not regulars with their clubs.
Janko has scored 15 times in 34 matches for Austria.
“We don’t have 10 other forwards with similar qualities to choose from,” Koller said. “Many doubted Janko for the Sweden game but he proved them all wrong.”
Janko scored in the 2-1 win over the Scandinavians in June to put Austria in second place in Group C behind Germany, which has 16 points. Austria, Ireland and Sweden have 11 with Austria leading on goal difference.
Besiktas playmaker Vali Kavlak also returned from injury, while Mainz midfielder Julian Baumgartlinger was called up despite being suspended for the Germany game.
Austria plays Germany in Munich on Sept. 6 before taking on Ireland in Vienna four days later.
Austria hasn’t won in Germany in 14 matches since 1931 and was beaten 2-1 by its neighbours a year ago in Vienna.
“We caused them some troubles and will try to do that again,” Koller said. “Germany starts as favourite but we certainly don’t have to hide ourselves.”
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Austria:
Goalkeepers: Robert Almer (Duesseldorf), Heinz Lindner (Austria Vienna), Ramazan Oezcan (Ingolstadt)
Defenders: Aleksandar Dragovic (Dynamo Kyiv), Christian Fuchs (Schalke), Gyoergy Garics (Bologna), Florian Klein (Salzburg), Emanuel Pogatetz (Nuernberg), Sebastian Proedl (Werder Bremen), Manuel Ortlechner (Austria Vienna), Markus Suttner (Austria Wien)
Midfielders: David Alaba (Bayern Munich), Marko Arnautovic (Werder Bremen), Julian Baumgartlinger (Mainz), Guido Burgstaller (Rapid Vienna), Andreas Ivanschitz (Levante), Zlatko Junuzovic (Werder Bremen), Veli Kavlak (Besiktas), Christoph Leitgeb (Salzburg)
Forwards: Martin Harnik (Stuttgart), Philipp Hosiner (Austria Vienna), Marc Janko (Trabzonspor), Andreas Weimann (Aston Villa)