Moscow, Oct 31 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Real Madrid youngster Denis Cheryshev was a surprise inclusion in Russia football coach Fabio Capello’s provisional squad Wednesday for next month’s friendly against the United States.
The winger, 21, has yet to play a competitive game for Real’s senior team, but has impressed playing for the Spanish giants’ reserves, and for Russia’s under-21 side, where he has scored six goals in 12 games.
It is the first time he has been included in a senior Russia squad.
Every player who featured against Azerbaijan in Russia’s last match earlier this month has been retained, while there is still no return for established names Andrei Arshavin, Pavel Pogrenbyak and Roman Pavlyuchenko.
Capello has given regular fringe players another chance to win a first senior cap, with Spartak Moscow defender Evgeny Makeev and the Lokomotiv Moscow midfield pair of Magomed Ozdoev and Dmitry Tarasov all included.
Ex-Chelsea wing-back Yuri Zhirkov, now at Anzhi, returns to Capello’s plans after being left out of the national set-up last time amid fitness concerns.
Capello has showed willingness to experiment in goal, leaving out regular stand-in Anton Shunin of Dynamo Moscow in favour of an untested pair, FC Kuban’s Alexander Belenov and Spartak Moscow’s Artyom Rebrov.
A final squad is to be announced next week.
Russia host the US in the southern city of Krasnodar Nov 14. Since taking charge in July, Capello has remained unbeaten as Russia coach following a friendly draw against the Ivory Coast and World Cup qualifying wins against Northern Ireland, Israel, Portugal and Azerbaijan.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
bs/dg
