La Liga duo out of Russia friendly

PFDC – TEHRAN, Iran caretaker Alireza Mansourian had to make several changes to his roster for the friendly match against Russia in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday.

The slightly injured Osasuna duo Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei will stay in Spain after their club had asked Mansourian to allow them to do so.

Beside the two, also striker talent Karim Ansarifard and Foolad Khuzestan forward Reza Norouzi had to be crossed off due to injuries.

Instead of the four players, Mansourian added three youngsters, Esteghlal Tehran shooting star Esmail Sharifat (pictured), Persepolis Tehran winger Hadi Norouzi and Zob Ahan leftback Hossein Mahini, to the squad.

Team Melli will travel to Abu Dhabi on Monday evening and will take on Russia on Wednesday 20:00 local time after just two training sessions.

Goalkeepers:
Mehdi Rahmati – Sepahan Esfahan
Shahab Gordan – Zob Ahan Esfahan
Ebrahim Mirzapour – Paykan Ghazvin

Defenders:
Khosro Heydari – Sepahan Esfahan
Mohammad Nosrati – Teraktorsazi Tabriz
Jalal Hosseini – Sepahan Esfahan
Hadi Aghily – Sepahan Esfahan
Farshid Talebi – Zob Ahan Esfahan
Mohsen Bengar – Sepahan Esfahan
Ehsan Hajsafi – Sepahan Esfahan
Hossein Mahini – Zob Ahan Esfahan

Midfielders:
Andranik Teymourian – Teraktorsazi Tabriz
Pejman Nouri – Malavan Anzali
Iman Mobali – Esteghlal Tehran
Mohammad Nouri – Persepolis Tehran
Ghasem Hadadifar – Zob Ahan Esfahan

Strikers:
Gholamreza Rezaei – Persepolis Tehran
Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari – Zob Ahan Esfahan
Arash Afshin – Foolad Khuzestan
Mohammad Gholami – Steel Azin Tehran
Hadi Norouzi – Persepolis Tehran
Esmail Sharifat – Esteghlal Tehran