11.03.2019 15:32 h

Russia call up Chalov and Akhmetov for Euro 2020 qualifiers

Russia coach Stanislav Cherchesov on Monday called up promising uncapped duo Fyodor Chalov and Ilzat Akhmetov for the start of the Euro 2020 qualifying campaign.

CSKA Moscow 20-year-old striker Chalov, this season's leading scorer in the Russian Premier League, and midfielder Akhmetov, 21, named the country's best young footballer last year, were both included in a 26-man squad.

"We've called Chalov into the national side because the Under-21 team doesn't play enough official matches," Cherchesov told reporters.

"If he does well with the national team he will stay with us, as will any other Under-21 players who interest us."

The 2018 World Cup hosts travel to Brussels to face top-ranked Belgium in their opening game in Group I on March 21, and then play neighbouring Kazakhstan in Astana three days later.

Arsenal Tula full-back Maxim Belyaev and Vitesse Arnhem defender Vyacheslav Karavaev were also called up for the first time.

"Belyaev played well for Arsenal in the last couple of years. I think he has made a qualitative leap in his performances and deserved a call up into the national side," Cherchesov added.

"Karavayev is currently an integral part of Vitesse's first team and I would like to see him at our team's training sessions."

Monaco midfielder Alexander Golovin, Lokomotiv Moscow forward Fyodor Smolov and Istanbul Basaksehir's Fyodor Kudryashov returned to the squad after missing the decisive 2-0 UEFA Nations League defeat by Sweden last November.

Cherchesov omitted former Germany youth internationals Roman Neustadter and Konstantin Rausch, while Zenit St Petersburg's Andrei Lunev is set to take over in goal following the international retirement of Igor Akinfeev.