Amr Shaheen BBC Sport, Cairo

Hossam Hassan gets surprise Egypt recall

Veteran striker Hossam Hassan will rejoin the Egyptian national team after a friendly against the European champions France on 30 April in Paris.

Egypts coach, Mohsen Saleh has said that the 37-year-old will make the team just hours after the striker's opening goal for Zamalek in last Saturday's Egyptian derby victory over league leaders Al Ahly.

Hassan has not played for the Pharaohs since the African Nations Cup last year in Mali.

Saleh's decision to invite Hassan amongst six other Zamalek players comes as a big surprise although the veteran is in top form at the moment.

A protracted row with the Egyptian coach had forced Hassan and his twin brother, Ibrahim, out of the side since February 2002.

But all that seems to have changed now as Saleh has rarely been an admirer of the twins, is delighted about the call up of the experienced striker.

"I will meet with him and ask him to lead the team in the coming period and to give his experience to the younger generations," Saleh said.

"Hopefully he will play the same role that Roger Milla played with Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup."

Hassan has scored 78 goals in 151 games since making his debut for Egypt at 20 in a friendly against Norway in 1986.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Essam El Hadary (Ahly), Abdel Wahed El Sayed (Zamalek), Essam Mahmoud (Enppi);

Defenders: Hady Khashaba (Ahly), Bechir El Taaby (Zamalek), Abdelzaher El Saka (Gen�lerbirligi - Turkey), Tarek El Sayed (Zamalek), Emad El Nahas (Ismaili), Wael Gomaa (Ahly);

Midfielders: Hossam Ghaly (Ahly), Tarek El Saeed (Zamalek), Mohamed Goda (Ahly), Hany Said (Como - Italy), Ahmed Fathy (Ismaili), Hazem Emam (Zamalek), Ahmed Hassan (Gen�lerbirligi -Turkey), Ayman Abdel Aziz (Malatyaspor -Turkey), Sayed Abdel Hafiez (Ahly);

Strikers: Abdel Haliem Ali (Zamalek), Ahmed Mido Hossam (Celta -Spain), Gamal Hamza(Zamalek).