Striker Andre-Pierre Gignac has won a recall to the France national side on Thursday along with fellow Marseille player Dimitri Payet after impressing coach Didier Deschamps for the league leaders.
The 28-year-old Gignac is the top scorer in Ligue 1 with eight goals this season, and has been called up to replace Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud, who is recovering from a foot injury, for friendlies against Portugal and Armenia later this month.
"He's back, he was there last year in September (against Georgia)," said Deschamps of Gignac who will back-up the usual forward lineup of Karim Benzema, Antoine Griezmann, Mathieu Valbuena, Loic Remy and Remy Cabella.
"Even if he has always scored goals he now has a very good efficiency," continued Deschamps. "He has the physique that allows him to make the effort.
"If I'm taking him, it's because I consider that what he is doing on the field right now is interesting for the France team," he added.
Gignac, who has scored four goals during 17 appearances for France, has not worn the France jersey since playing a goalless World Cup qualifying draw in Georgia last September.
Concerning winger Payet, 27, who has seven caps for France, Deschamps said he had also been impressed by his performances for Marseille.
The player from the French island of Reunion in the Indian Ocean was selected to fill in for Lille midfielder Rio Mavuba who is out with a thigh injury.
"He's a player with many qualities," said Deschamps.
"What he's able to achieve for his club is very interesting, in a different role, axial, playmaking, where he is very influential in the game and decisive by his passes and goals."
Lyon defender Christophe Jallet has also been recalled to fill in for the missing Mathieu Debuchy (left ankle) after missing the 1-0 win over Spain and 1-1 drawn in Serbia last month.
Barcelona's Jeremy Mathieu will fill the gap of Liverpool defender Mamadou Sakho (thigh).
France squad for internationals against Portugal on October 11 and Armenia on October 14.
Goalkeepers: Hugo Lloris (Tottenham/ENG), Stephane Ruffier (Saint Etienne), Steve Mandanda (Marseille)
Defenders: Christophe Jallet (Lyon), Lucas Digne (Paris Saint Germain), Patrice Evra (Juventus/ITA), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal/ENG), Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City/ENG), Bacary Sagna (Manchester City/ENG), Jeremy Mathieu (Barcelona/ESP), Raphael Varane (Real Madrid/ESP)
Midfielders: Yohan Cabaye (PSG), Blaise Matuidi (PSG), Paul Pogba (Juventus/ITA), Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle/ENG), Morgan Schneiderlin (Southampton/ENG)
Forwards: Mathieu Valbuena (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Remy Cabella (Newcastle/ENG), Karim Benzema (Real Madrid/ESP), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Loïc Remy (QPR/ENG), Dimitri Payet (Marseille), Andre-Pierre Gignac (Marseille)
Source: AFP
