Ai Kesen of Guangzhou Evergrande celebrates after scoring a goal during game against Shanghai Shenhua in Guangzhou, China, December 1, 2019. /VCG
The Chinese Football Association has announced the 26-man squad for the men's national team and the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in March.
Five players, including Brazilian-born, naturalized striker Ai Kesen from CSL powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande, have been called up. Another British-born naturalized midfielder Li Ke from Beijing Guoan has surprisingly not been enlisted.
Star forward Wu Lei, who plays for La Liga's Espanyol, is the only listed player from one of the top five major European leagues.
Coach Li Tie, who was appointed to succeed Italian Marcello Lippi in January, will lead the team in his first two World Cup qualifiers on March 26 and March 31 against the Maldives and Guam.
Li and his players will assemble on March 3 in Dubai. In order to ensure the team will not be affected by the coronavirus epidemic, all the players and staff who are currently in China will undergo a medical exam in Beijing before departure.
China's footballers in training in Foshan, Guangdong Province, south China, January 6, 2020. /VCG
This is the 26-man roster:
Goalkeepers: Yan Junling (Shanghai SIPG), Dong Chunyu(Wuhan Zall), Liu Dianzuo (Guangzhou Evergrande);
Defenders: Zhang Linpeng (Guangzhou Evergrande), Gao Zhunyi(Guangzhou Evergrande), Yu Dabao (Beijing Guoan), Li Lei (Beijing Guoan), Li Ang (Jiangsu Suning), Ming Tian(Wuhan Zall), Jiang Zhipeng (Hebei China Fortune), Tang Miao (Guangzhou R&F);
Midfielders: Xu Xin (Guangzhou Evergrande), Li Xing (Wuhan Zall), Liu Yun(Wuhan Zall), Wu Xi (Jiangsu Suning), Chi Zhongguo (Beijing Guoan), Liu Binbin (Shandong Luneng), Zhang Xizhe (Beijing Guoan), Liu Binbin (Shandong Luneng), Jin Jingdao (Shandong Luneng), Feng Jing (Chongqing Lifan);
Forwards: Ai Kesen (Guangzhou Evergrande), Dong Xuesheng (Hebei China Fortune), Tan Long (Changchun Yatai), Yang Xu (Tianjin Tianhai), Wu Lei (Espanyol).