Bayern quartet and Stuttgart's Gomez return to German squad

Loew is without the injured Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings while Bayer Leverkusen's Bernd Schneider also misses the Wales game due to suspension.

 Bayern Munich players Miroslav Klose, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Lukas Podolski and Marcell Jansen, as well as Mario Gomez of VfB Stuttgart, all return after missing the recent 2-1 friendly win over England due to injury.

 In fact, Schweinsteiger and Podolski, who has recovered from a knee operation, last played for Germany in March's 2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in Prague.

 "It's really good news that the injury situation has moderated and several important players are available," said Loew, who in the absence of Klose played with Kevin Kuranyi as a lone striker up front against England.

 Loew said he was still waiting to receive the green light to play Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, who has an achilles tendon problem.

 "A decision won't be made until Sunday," he said. Hanover 96 goalkeeper Robert Enke and Valencia's Timo Hildebrand are in the squad as cover.

 Loew said that he was delighted with the return of Schweinsteiger, who, at just 23, has already won 43 caps for Germany.

 "Schweinsteiger's return is important. He is one of the players who has certain amount of experience," the Germany coach told Deutsche Presse-Agentur, dpa. "He brings an important tempo to our game."

   Podolski has yet to nail down a first-team place at his club Bayern Munich this season but Loew said he wanted to "check his form" and see how much strain he can take.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hanover 96), Timo Hildebrand (Valencia, Spain), Jens Lehmann (Arsenal, England) 

Defenders: Gonzalo Castro (Bayer Leverkusen), Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Manuel Friedrich (Bayer Leverkusen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid, Spain), Christian Pander (Schalke 04), Serdar Tasci (VfB Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Roberto Hilbert (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV)

Forwards: Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Patrick Helmes (Cologne), Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich)

DPA