Fulham striker Hameur Bouazza is set to return to the Algeria national side for the first time since March for their vital African Nations Cup qualifier against Gambia on Sunday.
Bouazza, who missed last month’s friendly against Brazil through injury, was named in a 22-man squad by coach Jean-Michel Cavalli on Monday.
Also recalled were Bastia defender Mehdi Meniri, German-based midfielder Chadli Amri and striker Mansour Boutabout.
There was a first call-up for reserve goalkeeper Mohamed Lamine Zemamouche.
Algeria must beat their west African hosts in Banjul to stand any chance of progressing to January’s finals in Ghana.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Lounes Gaouaoui (Widad Tlemcen), Mohamed Ousserir (Chabab Belouizdad), Mohamed Lamine Zemamouche (USM Alger)
Defenders: Madjid Bougherra (Charlton Athletic, England), Ismael Bouzid (Galatasaray, Turkey), Farid Cheklam (ASO Chlef), Larbi Hosni (Mouloudia Alger), Mehdi Meniri (Bastia, France), Anthar Yahia (VfL Bochum, Germany), Abderraouf Zarabi (FC Gueugnon, France)
Midfielders: Chadli Amri (FSV Mainz, Germany), Nader Belhadj (Olympique Lyon, France), Yacine Bezzaz (Valenciennes, France), Lazhar Hadj Aissa (Entente Setif), Yazid Mansouri (Lorient, France), Karim Ziani (Olympique Marseille, France)
Strikers: Salim Arrache (Olympique Marseille, France), Hameur Bouazza (Fulham, England), Mansour Boutabout (Sedan, France), Nouredine Daham (Kaiserslautern, Germany), Kamel Fathi Ghilas (Vitoria Guimaraes, Portugal), Karim Matmour (SC Freiburg, Germany), Rafik Saifi (Lorient, France).
