Absentees affect Iran preperations

PFDC – AMMAN, Iran’s national team arrived in Jordan on for a ten-day training camp on Friday, including a friendly match against the hosts on September 5.

However, Carlos Queiroz’ squad, which is preparing for the World Cup qualifier in Lebanon on September 11, is depleted due to injuries, but also suspension and administrative issues.

The suspended Andranik Teymourian as well as the injured Mojtaba Jabbari and Khosro Heydari hadn’t been named in the initial list. Also, Mohsen Forouzan and Reza Haghighi once again couldn’t be invited due to visa issues.

For Heydari, fellow Esteghlal fullback Hashem Beikzadeh was added, but also Beikzadeh had to cancel the trip to Jordan due to injury now.

Carlos Queiroz and his team are currently looking for another rightback to join the national team as backup for Hossein Mahini in Jordan with delay.

Meanwhile, also Fulham acquisition Ashkan Dejagah had to be dropped after he hurt his muscle during Wolfsburg’s training. Karim Ansarifard was called up instead of the winger.

Latest news indicate striker Mohammad Ghazi is also injured, probably causing slight worries for Queiroz as two of the other invited strikers are doubtful as well.

Osasuna’s Masoud Shojaei just returned to the training pitch after injury and surgeries sidelining him for more than a year and hasn’t played a competitive match since spring 2011.

Future Standard Liege forward Reza Ghoochannejhad is still waiting for FIFA to finalize his player passport and could again be unavailble, if the world football governing body fails to clear the player in time.

That could leave Queiroz with only three fit and eligible strikers for his 4-3-3: Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari, Mohammad Ebrahimi and Ansarifard.

However, reports suggest Ghazi could recover soon and will be available for the Lebanon match and maybe even the Jordan friendly.

Therefore no other striker has been nominated instead of the Persepolis target man yet.