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Anelka is recalled to French squad

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PARIS, France -- Bolton striker Nicolas Anelka has been recalled to the France squad to face Scotland and the Faroe Islands in their Euro 2008 Group B qualifiers.

Anelka has been drafted in because of an injury to Sidney Govou and doubts over Louis Saha who has a groin strain.

Govou, who scored two goals in France's 3-1 victory over world champions Italy last month, has an ankle problem.

Anelka, the much-travelled former Paris St Germain, Arsenal, Real Madrid and Liverpool forward, has joined France's training camp in Clairefontaine.

The 27-year-old has scored seven goals in 31 internationals but has always had a rocky relationship with the national team.

He got a surprise recall last year but has not played since a 2-1 home defeat by Slovakia in a friendly on March 1 and was overlooked for the World Cup in Germany.

Often dubbed the enfant terrible of French football, Anelka, who joined Bolton for eight million pounds ($15.5 million) from Turkey's Fenerbahce in August, also missed out on the 1998 and 2002 tournaments.

Now he has yet another chance to establish himself in the national team, starting against Scotland in Glasgow on Saturday and then against Faroe Islands next Wednesday in Sochaux.

"I'm happy for him (Anelka). I know him pretty well and his bad boy reputation is quite unfair," said defender Willy Sagnol. "I think he has changed a lot."

Coach Raymond Domenech also called up Lyon's Sebastien Squillaci as defender William Gallas is doubtful with a painful thigh.

"I'm slightly injured and I still need to take medical tests," Gallas said. "I feel like I could play with a strapping but I don't want to take any risks.

"Taking on Scotland looks like an exciting challenge but I don't want to make things worse and find myself out for a month."

'Incredible Sulk'

Anelka joined Arsenal from Paris St Germain at the age of 17 in 1996 and helped the Gunners to lift the FA Cup and league double in 1998, scoring in the 2-0 cup final defeat of Newcastle.

He won the PFA Young Player of the Year award that year but became involved in a row over salary and his temperamental displays earned him the nickname of the the 'Incredible Sulk.'

After scoring 28 goals in 90 appearances for Arsenal he was transferred to Real Madrid, helping them to win the European Cup.

Overall he only managed four goals in 29 outings and after one season returned to Paris St Germain. A season later he went on loan to Liverpool, who were managed by Frenchman Gerard Houllier.

He was not a regular first-teamer and after the loan period he switched to Kevin Keegan's Manchester City for three seasons.

In January 2005 he moved on to Fenerbahce and helped them to win the Turkish title. After much speculation about a return to England this summer he was snapped up by Sam Allardyce at Bolton, signing a four-year deal.

The total transfer fees paid for Anelka during his career currently stands at 69.8 million pounds ($131.5 million).

He made his French senior debut in 1998 but was not chosen for the World Cup in France that year and missed out again in 2002.

When Jacques Santini took over from Roger Lemerre, Anelka fell out of favor after snubbing a call-up for a friendly. He was exiled from the international scene for three years until 2005 when Domenech brought him back.

After his omission from the finals in Germany this summer, when Govou was preferred to replace Djibril Cisse, Anelka said: "My absence is a real shame. I think I could have helped France."


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Clubs have paid a total of $131.5 million for the much-traveled Anelka.

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