Azerbaijan line up for big tests

Sasha Yunusogli and Ilgar Gurbanov have returned to the Azerbaijan squad for the home games against Portugal and Serbia after making first-team breakthroughs at their clubs.

Foreign clubs
Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopolski defender Yunusogli and Sivasspor midfielder Gurbanov will bolster the squad, while FK Olimpik Baku striker Farrukh Ismaylov has been called in to give Shakhin Diniyev more attacking options. FK Karabakh frontman Murad Agakishiyev is unexpectedly omitted. "There are no newcomers, as you can see," said Diniyev. "I paid a lot of attention to domestic league games and decided to stick with the same players. Matches against Portugal and Serbia are not the time for risky experiments."

Azerbaijan squad
Goalkeepers: Farkhad Veliyev (FK Karabakh), Jahangir Hasanzade (FC Inter Baku).

Defenders: Aslan Kerimov (FK Karabakh), Ramin Guliyev (PFC Neftchi), Samir Abbasov (FC Inter Baku), Zaur Gashimov (FK Khazar Lenkoran), Sasha Junusogli (Groclin Grodzisk Wielkopolski).

Midfielders: Aleksandr Chertoganov (PFC Neftchi), Ramazan Abbasov (PFC Neftchi), Elmar Bakhshiev (FK Khazar Lenkoran), Dzeykhun Sultanov (FK Khazar Lenkoran), Emin Guliyev (FK Khazar Lenkoran), Alim Gurbanov (FK Khazar Lenkoran), Emin Imamaliev (FC Inter Baku), Ilgar Gurbanov (Sivasspor).

Forwards: Samir Aliyev (PFC Neftchi), Branimir Subašić (PFC Neftchi), Khagani Mamedov (FC Inter Baku), Farrukh Ismaylov (FK Olimpik Baku).