Gakhokidze gets Georgian recall

By Vakhtang Bzikadze

Georgi Gakhokidze is back in the Georgia squad to face Lithuania in their 100th game since independence.

Ban completed
Coach Alain Giresse has recalled the FC Twente midfielder after Gakhokidze completed a four-match ban imposed after he was involved in a scuffle with Georgian Football Federation president Merab Zhordania during a match last year.

Ashvetia returns
The 29-year-old impressed in Twente's 3-0 Dutch league win at Willem II on Saturday, with Giresse's assistant Gia Guruli in attendance. The Frenchman has also selected striker Mikheil Ashvetia for the first time since Georgia's 3-1 defeat by Russia in November 2003.

New blood
Two newcomers are also included, with FC Tbilisi midfielder Gogita Gogua and Vasil Gigiadze, who has scored seven goals in the Ukrainian Premier League this season with FC Tavriya Simferopol, hoping for a debut in the 9 February game in Tbilisi.

Young defenders
Missing are AC Milan's Kakha Kaladze and Rangers FC duo Shota Arveladze and Zurab Khizanishvili. In their absence, Giresse may give young FC Dinamo Tbilisi defenders Lasha Salukvadze, Georgi Shashiashvili and Dato Kvirkvelia a chance to shine.

Georgia squad
Lomaia (FC Himki), Devadze (FC Tbilisi), Mzhavanadze (FC Anzhi Makhachkala), Amisulashvili (FC Dynamo Kyiv), Salukvadze (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Shashiashvili (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Kvirkvelia (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Kvaratskhelia (FC Tbilisi), Menteshashvili (Skonto FC), Korgalidze (Skonto FC), Gakhokidze (FC Twente), Asatiani (FC Lokomotiv Moskva), Burduli (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Gogoberishvili (FC Dinamo Tbilisi), Gogua (FC Tbilisi), Magradze (Xanthi FC), Demetradze (FC Metalurh Donetsk), Jakobia (FC Metalist Kharkiv), Gigiadze (FC Tavriya Simferopol), Ashvetia (FC Lokomotiv Moskva).