(CNN) -- Veteran goalkeeper Hans-Jorg Butt has received his first international call-up since 2003 as Germany coach Joachim Low named seven players from Bayern Munich in a preliminary 27-man squad for the World Cup in South Africa. The 35-year-old Butt will be competing for a starting place with Schalke's Manuel Neuer and Werder Bremen's Tim Wiese as Bayer Leverkusen's Rene Adler has been ruled out with a rib injury. Captain Michael Ballack, who plays for English club Chelsea, is the only man selected who does not feature in the German Bundesliga. Stuttgart's Brazil-born forward Cacau is included, but his former clubmate Thomas Hitzlsperger misses out despite the absence of injured Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes as he has not been playing regularly for his Italian club Lazio.
@highlight
Bayern Munich keeper Hans-Jorg Butt named in Germany's preliminary squad for World Cup
@highlight
Butt last played for Germany in 2003 but recalled after injury to Rene Adler
@highlight
Coach Joachim Low named seven Bayern players in his 27-man squad
@highlight
He will reduce it to 23 by the start of June before the team go to South Africa
"This was a very difficult decision for me," @placeholder told reporters on Thursday.