Soccer-Scharner left out of provisional Austria squad

VIENNA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - Austria coach Karel Brueckner left Wigan defender Paul Scharner out of his provisional 19-man squad for September's World Cup qualifiers against France and Lithuania.

Brueckner said Scharner could still earn a late call-up if he plays for his club this weekend.

Following a falling out with former Austria coach Josef Hickersberger, Scharner ended two years of international exile earlier this month when he was selected for Brueckner's first game in charge -- a 2-2 friendly draw with world champions Italy.

Scharner has subsequently struggled with an ankle injury but Brueckner said he expected to call up three extra players to the squad named on Thursday once he had assessed the weekend's action.

Helsingborg striker Roman Kienast was the only fit player from the draw with Italy to be omitted from Brueckner's latest squad, with goalkeeper Juergen Macho and midfielder Rene Aufhauser both making returns after shaking off injuries.

Austria are due to face France in Vienna on Sept. 6 before travelling to play Lithuania four days later.

Their other World Cup qualifying group seven opponents are Romania, Serbia and the Faroe Islands. Squad:

Goalkeepers: Juergen Macho (AEK Athens), Ramazan Ozcan (Hoffenheim), Alex Manninger (Juventus)

Defenders: Gyorgy Garics (Atalanta), Ronald Gercaliu (Salzburg), Emanuel Pogatetz (Middlesbrough), Sebastian Proedl (Werder Bremen), Martin Stranzl (Spartak Moscow)