Henry praise for Anelka

Thierry Henry has welcomed Nicolas Anelka back into the international fold.

The Fenerbahce hit-man has previously been cold shouldered by France coach Raymond Domenech after snubbing a late call-up for a friendly against Yugoslavia in November 2002, when Jacques Santini was at the helm.

However, following France's stuttering World Cup qualification campaign, Domenech has decided to give the talented-but-temperamental former Arsenal and Real Madrid forward another opportunity to demonstrate his worth - with Anelka to start on Wednesday against Costa Rica.

Henry and Anelka have a close personal relationship having both started their football education at the Clairefontaine football academy, with the talismanic Highbury favourite keen to be reunited with a player he played with in his youth.

''Since we arrived in Martinique, we are always together,'' Henry told L'Equipe. ''Nico is a guy I appreciate a lot.

''There is the man and the player. His image doesn't match the man he is.

''He is a very sane and shy man, and he loves laughing. It is very easy to be in daily life with Nico.

''I am extremely happy he came back. To me, he remains among the ten best forwards in the world.

''By calling him back, Domenech proved there is no black list in the French team.''