© Reuters 2002

By Steve Bryant

ISTANBUL, Feb 8 (Reuters) - Leicester City midfielder Muzzy Izzet moved closer to a Turkey World Cup place on Friday when he was named in a 28-man squad for a warm-up match against Ecuador in the Netherlands on February 12.

London-born Izzet, whose father is Turkish, was in the Turkey squad for Euro 2000 but was only on the fringes of the team that made history by reaching the quarter-finals.

Unsettled at Leicester, Izzet has been dogged by injuries over the past year and will have to fight hard for a place in Turkey's strong midfield.

The 28-man squad, announced by Turkish coach Senol Gunes, contains few surprises and retains faith with most of the players at the heart of Turkey's World Cup campaign and two European Championship appearances.

But many of the key players look alarmingly rusty and Galatasaray midfielder Hakan Unsal, who has been sidelined from the team since refusing to sign a new contract this year and demanding a transfer, is also included.

Up front, Gunes has picked veteran striker Hakan Sukur, despite the fact that the prolific centre-forward has only recently returned to first team soccer at Parma after months of inactivity at Inter Milan.

Gunes has also brought in 27-year-old Besiktas striker Ilhan Mansiz, in recognition of a strong season and third place in the goal-scoring rankings with 13 this season.

KEEPING FAITH
Ilhan's strike partner at Besiktas, Ahmet Dursun, is ignored, but Gunes keeps faith with off-form Galatasaray forward Umit Karan.

Arif Erdem of Galatasaray (30), Sukur's longest-established strike partner and second in the Turkish league goal rankings, is also included.

Turkey usually play with a packed midfield of five players and Gunes has given himself a wealth of talent to chose from in the centre of the pitch.

Tugay Kerimoglu, likely to play just ahead of the defence, has been in good form at Blackburn, while Bayer Leverkusen's Yildiray Basturk impressed in his last appearance for Turkey, scoring as the national side beat Austria 5-0 to qualify for the World Cup finals.

The Inter Milan pairing of Okan Buruk and Emre Belozoglu will also be challenging for a midfield place, as will Galatasaray playmaker Sergen Yalcin, regarded as strong in attack but as a defensive liability.