Rookie Zhirkov wins Russian chance
 |  Zhirkov, right, is in line for his Russia debut against Italy next month |
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MOSCOW, Russia (Reuters) -- Uncapped CSKA Moscow midfielder Yuri Zhirkov has been named by Russia coach Georgy Yartsev in his 20-man squad for next month's friendly against Italy.
The 21-year-old left winger was a revelation last year, breaking into a CSKA side packed with seasoned internationals during his first season in the top flight.
But team-mates and fellow midfielders Rolan Gusev and Yevgeny Aldonin have been omitted for the game in Cagliari on February 9.
Dynamo Moscow striker Dmitry Bulykin was also dropped from the squad since he is preoccupied with protracted negotiations to join English Premier League side Crystal Palace.
CSKA coach Valery Gazzayev was reluctant to release his players for the national team because CSKA are preparing for next month's UEFA Cup first knockout round clash with Benfica.
But he agreed to release Zhirkov, who is suspended for the first leg tie against the Portuguese club on February 17.
Squad:
Goalkeepers Vyacheslav Malafeyev (Zenit St Petersburg), Igor Akinfeyev (CSKA Moscow)
Defenders Alexei Berezutsky (CSKA Moscow), Vadim Yevseyev, Dmitry Sennikov and Alexei Bugayev (all Lokomotiv Moscow), Denis Kolodin and Alexander Anyukov (both Krylya Sovietov Samara)
Midfielders Alexei Smertin (Chelsea), Dmitry Alenichev and Denis Boyarintsev (both Spartak Moscow), Dmitry Loskov, Dmitry Khokhlov and Marat Izmailov (all Lokomotiv Moscow), Yuri Zhirkov (CSKA Moscow), Andrei Karayka (Krylya Sovietov Samara), Vladimir Bystrov (Zenit St Petersburg)
Forwards Dmitry Sychev (Lokomotiv Moscow), Alexander Kerzhakov and Andrei Arshavin (both Zenit St Petersburg).
