Akinfeev returns for Russia deciders

Igor Akinfeev is back in the Russia squad as Guus Hiddink's side look to secure a place at UEFA EURO 2008™ with their final two qualifiers against Israel and Andorra.

Knee injuries
Goalkeeper Akinfeev has not represented Russia since March after damaging cruciate ligaments in his left knee, but returns for the trips to Israel and Andorra on 17 and 21 November respectively after playing in PFC CSKA Moskva's 1-0 league win at FC Kuban Krasnodar on Saturday. FC Spartak Moskva winger Vladimir Bystrov misses out after sustaining a similar injury with 1. FC Nürnberg's Ivan Saenko likely to cover for him. Defender Sergei Ignashevich is included despite suffering a hairline fracture to a cheekbone, with doctors sure he will be fit to play in both games. Two points behind second-placed England with a game in hand, wins in both their remaining Group E games will earn Russia a place at UEFA EURO 2008™.

Russia squad
Goalkeepers: Igor Akinfeev (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vladimir Gabulov (FC Kuban Krasnodar), Vyacheslav Malafeev (FC Zenit St. Petersburg).

Defenders: Sergei Ignashevich (PFC CSKA Moskva), Aleksei Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Vasili Berezutski (PFC CSKA Moskva), Denis Kolodin (FC Dinamo Moskva), Aleksandr Anyukov (FC Zenit St Petersburg).

Midfielders: Yuri Zhirkov (PFC CSKA Moskva), Diniyar Bilyaletdinov (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Igor Semshov (FC Dinamo Moskva), Konstantin Zyrianov (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Dmitri Torbinskiy (FC Spartak Moskva), Ivan Saenko (1. FC Nürnberg), Viktor Budyanski (Udinese Calcio), Roman Shirokov (FC Khimki).

Forwards: Andrei Arshavin (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Pavel Pogrebnyak (FC Zenit St. Petersburg), Aleksandr Kerzhakov (Sevilla FC), Dmitri Sychev (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Roman Pavlyuchenko (FC Spartak Moskva).