Škrtel back in Slovakia reckoning

Defender Martin Škrtel has returned to the Slovakia squad two months after suffering a nasty facial injury at FC Zenit St. Petersburg.

Serious concussion
Škrtel suffered concussion and fractured his eye socket during a 9-3 Russian Cup win against FC Dinamo Moskva on 8 August and returns to Ján Kocian's squad for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against San Marino and the Czech Republic on 13 and 17 October respectively. "I need to be sure if Martin is fit again – that's why I called him back into the squad." AC Cesena youngster Blažej Vaščák has also received a first call-up.

Slovakia squad
Goalkeepers: Kamil Čontofalský (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Dušan Kuciak (MŠK Žilina), Ľuboš Hajdúch (MFK Ružomberok).

Defenders: Martin Škrtel (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Ján Ďurica (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast), Peter Petráš (FC Saturn Moskovskaya Oblast) Miloš Brezinský (AC Sparta Praha), Otto Szabó (ŠK Slovan Bratislava), Matej Krajčík (SK Slavia Praha), Peter Šinglár (FC Slovan Liberec).

Midfielders: Marek Sapara (Rosenborg BK), Marek Hamšík (SSC Napoli), Ján Kozák (FC Artmedia Petržalka), Blažej Vaščák (AC Cesena), Marek Čech (FC Porto).

Forwards: Filip Hološko (Manisaspor), Stanislav Šesták (VfL Bochum 1848), Marek Mintál (1. FC Nürnberg), Andrej Hesek (FC Nitra).