Nice attacker Hatem Ben Arfa says he is touched to have earned a recall to the French national team ahead of this month's games against Germany and England.
Thursday's squad announcement was overshadowed by the omission of Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena after the Real Madrid striker was charged in connection with an attempt to blackmail his international teammate.
France boss Didier Deschamps did not want to discuss the details of that case but a more positive note was the return of Ben Arfa.
The former Newcastle player, 28, was left without a club for the second half of last season but he has caught the eye with seven goals in Ligue 1 this season.
"I'm very moved by this call-up," he told France Football. "I'm really very happy to be able to return to the French team and I'd like to thank the manager for having the confidence in me to select me for these next two matches."
Ben Arfa won the most recent of his 13 caps for France during Euro 2012. Deschamps said the player he used to work with at Marseille had earned a recall by proving he still had the fitness and talent to make an impact at the top level.
"Hatem had a very, very good start to the season," Deschamps told a news conference.
"These last few matches he's been a little less good but he's played practically three months of competitive games, so I think it's good to bring him back into the French squad, given what he's capable of."
France first take on world champions Germany in Paris on Nov. 13 before making the short trip to London to face England at Wembley on Nov. 17.