Trichkovski returns, Nilsson new name on team

Trichkovski returns after formerly turning his back on the national teamFor the third time since being named manager, Ljubinko Drulovic unveiled his squad for the final two EURO 2016 qualifiers next month.

Macedonia will conclude its disappointing EURO 2016 qualifying campaign with two more fixtures in October. The Red Lynx, as they are now called, will first host Ukraine on October 9 before then going on the road to face Belarus three days later.

For that occasion, Ljubinko Drulovic summoned 22 players. The biggest news was the return of Ivan Trichkovski and the first time call-up of David Mitov Nilsson. Trichkovski is back after last playing for Macedonia in May of 2014, while Nilsson is a Swedish-born goalkeeper of Macedonian origin (on his mother side). That is a big get as Nilsson is a highly rated keeper who is only 24 years old. With Pachovski getting up there in age, Nilsson and Dimitrievski will compete to be Tome’s successor.

Starting 11 last time Trichkovski played for Macedonia

Besides Trichkovski, Armend Alimi of Shkendija also returns to the team after a lengthy absence. Meanwhile, the only other mild surprise was Mite Cikarski being preferred to Ezgjan Alioski as the backup left-back to Leonard Zuta.

The players called up; photo: FFM

No U21 players were included on the team. The reasoning is that the U21 squad has an important qualifier against Northern Ireland on October 13, so guys like Marjan Radeski, Enis Bardhi, Boban Nikolov and Gjoko Zajkov will be with the youth side.

David Mitov Nilsson; photo: SVT Sport

The 22 players called up:

Tome Pachovski – Vardar Macedonia
Stole Dimitrievski – Granada Spain
David Mitov Nilsson – Norrköping Sweden

Stefan Ristovski – Rijeka Croatia
Vladica Brdarovski – Vardar Macedonia
Vanche Shikov – Austria Austria
Daniel Mojsov – Adana Demirspor Turkey
Kire Ristevski – Rabotnichki Macedonia
Leonard Zuta – Rijeka Croatia
Mite Cikarski – Rabotnichki Macedonia

Arijan Ademi – Dinamo Croatia
Milovan Petrovic – Rabotnichki Macedonia
Armend Alimi – Shkendija Macedonia
Nikola Gligorov – Vardar Macedonia
Ferhan Hasani – Shkendija Macedonia
Aleksandar Trajkovski – Palermo Italy
Agim Ibraimi – Maribor Slovenia
Stefan Ashkovski – Novi Pazar Serbia
Besart Abdurahimi – Lokeren Belgium
Ivan Trichkovski – Legia Poland

Mirko Ivanovski – Videoton Hungary
Bazhe Ilijoski – Rabotnichki Macedonia

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