Porterfield shuffles Armenia pack

Injuries and suspensions have prompted Armenia coach Ian Porterfield to invite two newcomers to the squad for the games against Kazakhstan and Poland.

New faces
With regular starters Romik Khachatryan and Levon Pachajyan both suspended for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifier against Kazakhstan on 2 June, FC Ararat defender Vahagn Minasyan and FC Banants defender Ararat Arakelyan may yet be drafted into the team. CSF Zimbru Chisinau's Karen Aleksanyan misses out on the squad through injury while there is no place for FC Illychivets Mariupil forward Ara Hakobyan. Armenia are currently bottom of qualifying Group A with just one point from five games.

Armenia squad
Goalkeepers: Roman Berezovski (FC Khimki), Gevorg Kasparov (FC Pas).

Defenders: Robert Arzumanyan (FC Pyunik), Karen Dokhoyan (no club), Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Valery Aleksanyan (FC Pyunik), Aleksander Tadevosyan (FC Bargh), Yegishe Melikyan (FC Banants), Vahagn Minasyan (FC Ararat), Ararat Arakelyan (FC Banants).

Midfielders: Agvan Mkrtchyan (FC Bargh), Hamlet Mkhitaryan (FC Pas), Romik Khachatryan (AFC Unirea Valahorum Urziceni), Artavazd Karamyan (FCU Politehnica Timisoara), Levon Pachajyan (FC Pyunik), Rafael Nazaryan (FC Pyunik), Artur Minasyan (FC Ararat), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants).

Forwards: Arman Karamyan (FC Ceahlaul Piatra Neamt), Armen Shahgeldyan (FC Mika), Aram Hakobyan (FC Illychivets Mariupil), Edgar Manucharyan (AFC Ajax), Robert Zebelyan (FC Kuban Krasnodar).