PFDC - TEHRAN, Carlos Queiroz announced a 19-men squad for the upcoming training camp, friendlies and World Cup qualifiers on Saturday.

A list of 33 players had been published throughout Iran's media midweek, however, it turned out it had only been a list sent to the Uzbek football federation in April to prepare visas.

The slightly different new list includes skipper Javad Nekounam, youngster Payam Sadeghian and the legionnaires from the Persian Gulf leagues, however, Belgium based Reza Ghoochannejhad is missing as well as numerous key players from Iranian clubs who are still on club duties.

Dejagah spearheads injury list

Queiroz will have to cope with the absence of several injured players, including Arash Afshin, Reza Norouzi, Omid Alishah, Mohammad Gholami, long-time injured Masoud Shojaei and Ashkan Dejagah.

The Vfl Wolfsburg winger might still make it for the qualifiers and could be added to the list later, if he recovers in time.

Eight to be added, three to be dropped

In addition to the 19 players invited now, eight players from the Asian Champions League participants Sepahan, Esteghlal and Persepolis will join the squad, Queiroz told reporters.

The three clubs wil play their final group matches this week. While Sepahan are already qualified for the playoff stage on May 22 and 23, Esteghlal and Persepolis each still need a point on the road to also advance.

The final list of 27 will the again be reduced to 24 players before the training camp in Turkey, starting on May 21 and including friendly matches against Besiktas Istanbul and Albania.

On May 28, Team Melli will then travel to Tashkent where they will face Uzbekistan in the first round 4 qualifier on June 3.

Nine days later, Iran will host Qatar in Tehran's Azadi stadium.

Below comes the 19-men-squad.

Goalkeepers
Alireza Haghighi - Rubin Kazan, RUS
Mohsen Forouzan - Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Shahab Gordan - Zob Ahan Esfahan

Defenders
Hossein Mahini - Zob Ahan Esfahan
Hadi Aghily - Al Arabi, QAT
Shoja Khalilazadeh - Mes Kerman
Ebrahim Karimi - Rah Ahan Ray
Ehsan Hajsafi - Tractor Sazi Tabriz

Midfielders
Javad Nekounam - CA Osasuna, ESP
Reza Haghighi - Fajr Sepasi Shiraz
Pejman Nouri - Emirates FC, UAE
Ghasem Hadadifar - Tractor Sazi Tabriz
Ghasem Dehnavi - Mes Kerman
Ahmad Hassanzadeh - Mes Kerman

Forwards
Mohammad-Reza Khalatbari - Al Wasl, UAE
Payam Sadeghian - Zob Ahan Esfahan
Karim Ansarifard - Saipa Karaj
Mohammad Ghazi - Zob Ahan Esfahan
Mohammad Ebrahimi - Foolad Khuzestan