Florent Malouda insists he is not the "ugly duckling" of French football.

Malouda is in Raymond Domenech's squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Romania and Serbia, the first of which takes place on Saturday, despite a troubled recent history with the national side.

He was left out of the Les Bleus set-up in the aftermath of their failed Euro 2008 campaign after criticising Domenech's tactics in the tournament and was subsequently substituted after only 38 minutes against the Romanians in October.

But he believes he is showing enough form with Chelsea to warrant his place and does not feel like an outsider.

"I am glad to play at the level which is right for me, so I feel good," he told L'Equipe.

"If I am here it is because I have a role to play. My performances are being recognised and that pleases me...I am not an ugly duckling.

"When I play there is the impression that there are no other options, but the figures show the opposite (with 41 Chelsea appearances to his name last term). I am proud of what I do with Chelsea."