Porterfield unable to assist Armenia

Cancer treatment
The 61-year-old Porterfield, whose side have beaten Kazakhstan, defeated Poland and drawn with Portugal in their last three UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers, has been readmitted to a London hospital where he is undergoing treatment for colon cancer. He will be replaced by assistant coaches Tom Jones and Vardan Minasyan. The Scot, who scored the winning goal for Sunderland AFC in the 1973 FA Cup final, was in the dugout for Armenia's 1-1 draw with Portugal on 22 August.

Squad reshuffle
Goalkeeper Roman Berezovsky, striker Robert Zebelyan and midfielder Hamlet Mkhitaryan will also be absent for the team's two matches. FC Ulis Yerevan custodian Mayis Azizyan has been brought in to provide cover, with forwards Ara Hakobyan and Arsen Avetisyan also recalled. FC Banants defender Hovhannes Grigoryan, meanwhile, has received his first call-up. Players eligible for Under-21 duty have been overlooked.

Armenia squad
Goalkeepers: Feliks Hakobyan (FC MIKA), Mayis Azizyan (FC Ulis Yerevan).

Defenders: Robert Arzumanyan (FC Pyunik), Karen Dokhoyan (FC Pyunik), Sargis Hovsepyan (FC Pyunik), Aleksandr Tadevosyan (FC Pyunik), Egishe Melikyan (FC Banants), Vahagn Minasyan (FC Ararat Yerevan), Ararat Arakelyan (FC Banants), Hovhannes Grigoryan (FC Banants).

Midfielders: Agvan Mkrtchyan (FC Pyunik), Romik Khachatryan (FC Universitatea Cluj), Artavazd Karamyan (FC Politehnica 1921 Stiinta Timişoara), Levon Pachajyan (FC Pyunik), Artur Minasyan (FC Ararat Yerevan), Samvel Melkonyan (FC Banants), Artur Voskanyan (FC Ararat Yerevan).

Forwards: Arman Karamyan (FC Politehnica 1921 Stiinta Timişoara), Arsen Avetisyan (FC Pyunik), Ara Hakobyan (FC Zimbru Chisinau).