Chinese Super League (CSL) 2018 Golden Boot winner Wu Lei has been named in China's 27-man squad for next year's Asian Cup.
Joining Wu in the list announced on Tuesday by the Chinese Football Association are his club teammates – goalkeeper Yan Junling and fullback Shi Ke – from Shanghai SIPG, the league champions of the just-concluded season.
Wu, 27, netted 27 goals in 30 matches to become the first local player to win the CSL best scorer award since 2007.
Guangzhou Evergrande, the seven-time CSL title winners from 2011 to 2017, have seven players in the squad, including 38-year-old midfield veteran Zheng Zhi.
The Chinese national soccer team /VCG Photo
But only 23 names will make into the final squad for the Asian Cup, which will take place in the United Arab Emirates from January 5 to February 1.
China, who are in Group C, which also features South Korea, Kyrgyzstan and the Philippines, will open their group campaign against Kyrgyzstan on January 7.
(Top photo: CSL best scorer Wu Lei /VCG Photo)