Mark Fish is in line to win his first cap since October 2000

England-based defender Mark Fish has been recalled to the South African side for the first time in more than three years.

Fish, who plays for English Premiership side Charlton Athletic, is the surprise inclusion as South Africa took the unusual step of naming their squad for the 2004 Nations Cup finals in Tunisia more than a month before the tournament.

Notable absentees from the 22-man squad named on Thursday include forward Benni McCarthy, midfielder Quinton Fortune and goalkeeper Hans Vonk.

South African officials revealed that McCarthy announced his intention to stop playing international football after Bafana Bafana coach Ephraim Mashaba refused his request to be allowed to join the squad just days before South Africa's first match of the tournament on 27 January.

Mashaba is insisting that all twenty-two players be available for pre-tournament preparations some two weeks before the competition starts, as prescribed by Fifa regulations.

The 26-year-old McCarthy had sought exemption owing to commitments with Portuguese champions FC Porto in early January, but Mashaba has refused to allow him to stay with the club - so leaving South Africa without their top two strikers.

McCarthy is second in South Africa's all-time goalscoring list with 22 goals while leading scorer Shaun Bartlett, who has a record 26 goals, retired from international football in October to concentrate on his club career with Charlton Athletic.

Bartlett's club colleague Fish last played for South Africa against France in October 2000 and is recalled after stating his interest in resuming his international career.

The 29-year-old defender has won 60 caps for Bafana Bafana and was part of the 1996 Nations Cup-winning side.

Meanwhile, Fortune, who plays for English champions Manchester United, and Vonk, who plays for Dutch club Heerenveen, were again omitted by Mashaba who has steadfastly refused to pick the pair since they stayed away from international commitments earlier in the year.

South Africa also included midfielder John Moshoeu, who turns 38 next week, and goalkeeper Andre Arendse, both of whom also played in the 1996 winning side.

Another surprise inclusion was striker George Koumantarakis, out with injury since March and who has not played a match for English first division club Preston North End this season.

Bafana Bafana are in Group D alongside two-time winners Nigeria, 1976 winners Morocco and debutants Benin.

South Africa squad for the 2004 Nations Cup:

Goalkeepers: Andre Arendse (Mamelodi Sundowns), Emile Baron (Lillestrom, Norway), Wayne Roberts (Wits University)

Defenders: Tony Coyle (FC Rostov, Russia), Mark Fish (Charlton Athletic, England), David Kannemeyer (Kaizer Chiefs), Jacob Lekgetho (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia), Mbulelo Mabizela (Tottenham Hotspur, England), Aaron Mokoena (Racing Genk, Belgium), Thabang Molefe (Le Mans, France)

Midfielders: Delron Buckley (VfL Bochum, Germany), Stanton Fredericks (Kaizer Chiefs), Benson Mhlongo (Wits University), Bennett Mnguni (FC Rostov, Russia), John Moshoeu (Kaizer Chiefs), Steven Pienaar (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Jabu Pule (Kaizer Chiefs), MacBeth Sibaya (Rubin Kazan, Russia), Sibusiso Zuma (FC Copenhagen, Denmark)

Forwards: George Koumantarakis (Preston North End, England), Patrick Mayo (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyabonga Nomvete (Udinese, Italy).