Turkey try out new blood for Dubai tournament

Gunes has not called any of his regular foreign-based players to the 22-man squad, leaving out Inter Milan's Emre Belozoglu and Blackburn Rovers' Tugay Kerimoglu, among others.

Also rested are veteran Galatasaray campaigners Ergun Penbe, Bulent Korkmaz, Umit Davala and Arif Erdem, as well as injured first-choice keeper Rustu Recber of Fenerbahce.

In their place for the tournament against Belarus and Ghana come a wave of promotions from the under-21 side and call-ups for some of the outstanding players of the current Turkish domestic season.

Gunes has long promised to widen his squad and bring in younger players but opted to stick by the core of his successful World Cup side for a 1-1 draw against Italy in November.

The great form of Fenerbahce's attacking midfielder Tuncay Sanli (21) wins him his first full senior place. Midfielders Tumer Metin and Ahmet Yildirim of league-leaders Besiktas are also recognised.

Gunes has called up three players from mid-table Denizlispor, who have battled to a fourth-round place in the UEFA Cup this season. Denizli striker Mustafa Ozkan, midfielder Ali Tandogan and defender Servet Cetin have formed the

The only new foreign-based player is Erol Bulut of Panionios, once an Under-21 regular.

Aston Villa defender Alpay Ozalan, at odds with the English side, is also included.

Turkey are building up to their European championship qualifying Group Seven game against second-placed England on April 2. England are five points behind Turkey in the group, which also includes Slovakia, with a game in hand.

Only the top team qualifies automatically for the 2004 tournament in Portugal, with second-placed sides entering a playoff.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Omer Catkic (Gaziantepspor), Zafer Ozgultekin (Ankaragucu)

Defenders: Fatih Akyel (Fenerbahce), Alpay Ozalan (Aston Villa), Hakan Unsal (Galatasaray), Deniz Baris (Genclerbirligi), Servet Cetin (Denizlispor), Orhan Ak (Kocaelispor), Erol Bulut (Panionios)

Midfielders: Cihan Haspolatli (Galatasaray), Tumer Metin (Besiktas), Ahmet Yildirim (Besiktas), Ibrahim Toraman (Gaziantepspor), Kemal Aslan (Gaziantepspor), Ali Tandogan (Denizlispor), Selcuk Sahin (Istanbulspor)

Forwards: Hasan Sas (Galatasaray), Serhat Akin (Fenerbahce), Tuncay Sanli (Fenerbahce), Ilhan Mansiz (Besiktas), Fatih Tekke (Trabzonspor), Mustafa Ozkan (Denizlispor)