Azmoun suffers fresh injury blow as Iran names squad for friendlies
Shabab Al Ahli striker Sardar Azmoun will be unavailable for Iran’s upcoming friendlies against Russia and Tanzania after picking up a new injury while on club duty.
The Iranian talisman sustained a fractured metatarsal in his foot as well as a torn ankle ligament during a training session on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined for up to fourth months.
This is the Iranian striker’s second injury setback in nearly five months. He had already missed two previous international breaks before making a scoring return in September, coming on as a substitute to net a last-gasp winner for Shabab Al Ahli in a top-flight win over Al Nasr.
Iran will play Russia in Volgograd on Friday, before facing Tanzania – No. 107 in the latest FIFA Men’s World Ranking – in Dubai four days later.
The double header will be part of Iran’s preparation for next summer’s World Cup finals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Iran head coach Amir Qalenoei named a 24-man squad on Saturday, with Persepolis center-back Hossein Kan’ani, Al Nasr winger Mahdi Ghayedi, and Lech Poznan winger Ali Qolizadeh also set to miss the double header with injury.
Allahyar Sayyadmanesh, playing as a striker for Belgian top-tier club K.V.C. Westerlo, received a first international callout in 13 months, while teenage prodigy Kasra Taheri will be looking to make his senior Team Melli debut after scoring four goals in six Persian Gulf Pro League appearances for Zob Ahan.
The following is Iran’s 24-man squad for October’s international break:
Goalkeepers: Alireza Beiranvand (Tractor), Payam Niazmand (Persepolis), Mohammadreza Akhbari (Sepahan), Mohammad Khalifeh (Iralco)
Defenders: Mohammad-Amin Hazbavi (Sepahan), Ali Ne’mati (Foolad Khuzestan), Hossein Abarqouei (Persepolis), Shoja Khalilzadeh (Tractor), Mohammad-Mahdi Zare’ (Akhmat Grozny), Arya Yousefi (Sepahan)
Midfielders: Mohammad Khodabandelou (Persepolis), Alireza Jahanbakhsh (-), Mohammad Qorbani (Al Wahda), Samman Qoddous (Ittihad Kalba), Omid Nourafkan (Sepahan), Saeid Ezzatollahi (Shabab Al Ahli), Mohammad-Javad Hosseinnejad (Dynamo Makhachkala), Mohammad Mohebbi (Rostov FC), Mahdi Hashemnejad (Tractor), Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh (Tractor)
Strikers: Mahdi Taremi (Olympiacos), Kasra Taheri (Zob Ahan), Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (K.V.C. Westerlo), Ali Alipour (Persepolis).