News.ssport.net (Jan 24, 2003) - Macedonia coach Nikola Ilievski has called three uncapped midfield players into his 30-man squad for a four-team tournament in Croatia next month.

Macedonia will meet Croatia first on 9 February in Šibenik, before subsequent matches against Poland and the Croatian club side HNK Hajduk Split. Two of the trio play with Croatian clubs - Naum Batkovski of NK Rijeka and Igor Jancevski of NK Varteks - while Skumbin Arslani is based in Macedonia with FK Napredok.

Meanwhile, Vlatko Gošev from PAS Giannina has been recalled after a two-year absence, and Aco Stojkov is included in the place of midfield player Robert Petrov will not travel to the tournament due to a knee ligament injury.

"Some of the 22 will play against Croatia only and will be replaced by other players who will arrive in Croatia at a later stage to face Hajduk and Poland," Ilievski said. The friendlies are part of Macedonia's preparations for their UEFA EURO 2004™ Group Seven qualifier against Slovakia in March. Macedonia have two points from their opening three matches in the group, which also includes England, Turkey and Liechtenstein.