Ali Karimi to miss Uzbekistan clash

PFDC – TEHRAN, Veteran playmaker Ali Karimi will be out of action for four weeks and therefore will also miss the World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan next Wednesday.

The 34-year-old, who has not participated in club football action since being kicked out of his club by Persepolis coach Manuel Jose last month, had to be subbed out late in first half of Iran’s 6-1 thrashing of Tajikistan on Tuesday after providing three assists until then.

The injury initially was downplayed as a cramp by Iran coach Carlos Queiroz but examinations on Friday revealed Karimi is suffering from a hamstring injury which will sideline him until early December.

It is yet unclear if Queiroz will call up a replacement for the 127 times Iranian international (38 goals).

With Mohammad and Milad Nouri, the latter also having assisted three goals against Tajikistan, two alternatives for the playmaking position are already part of the remaining 24-man squad, which also includes Pejman Nouri and Ghasem Dehnavi as more defensive alternatives.