Algeria called up French-born midfielder Salah Bakour and defender Nadir Belhadj for its international friendly against China, the Algerian Football Federation said on Tuesday.

Bakour, who plays for French second division club Caen, and Gueugnon's Belhadj are both in line for their first cap.

They are among the 13 players from clubs in Europe named in the23-man squad for the match, which serves as part of Algeria's preparations for their 2006 World Cup qualifiers that start in June.

Rabah Saadane will be in charge for the April 28 match in Clermont Ferrand in France, while they await the arrival of new coach Robert Waseige, who will not join the team until after his season with Belgian first division club Charleroi ends.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Larak Benfissa (ASO Chlef), Mohamed Benhamou (Paris St Germain, France), Lounes Gaouaoui (JS Kabylie)

Defenders: Malek Ait Alia (Clermont Ferrand, France), Nadir Belhadj (Gueugnon, France), Samir Beloufa (Excelsior Mouscron,Belgium), Salim Aribi (USM Alger), Mehdi Meniri (Metz, France), Antar Yahia (Bastia, France), Brahim Zafour (JS Kabylie)

Midfielders: Hocine Achiou, Omar Ammour (both USM Alger), SalahBakour (Caen, France), Djamel Belmadi (Al Ittihad, Qatar), Fodil Hadjadj (Nantes, France), Mamar Mamouni (La Louviere,Belgium), Karim Ziani (Troyes, France)

Forwards: Nassim Akrour (Troyes, France), Salim Arrache (Strasbourg, France), Adlene Bensaid (USM Annaba), Mansour Boutabout (Gueugnon, France), Bouabdellah Daoud (Mouloudia Oran), Karim Ghazi (Esperance, Tunisia).

Source: Xinhua