Blues striker Ali Al-Hamadi has been named in the Iraq squad for their World Cup qualifiers during the international break.

The Iraqis face Oman in Basra on Thursday 5th September in the first game of the third stage of Asian qualifying for the finals, then travel to take on Kuwait on Tuesday 10th September.

Al-Hamadi, 22, the first Iraqi to play in the Premier League, has previously won 12 senior caps, scoring three goals.

The striker is one of 11 Town players who will be away on international duty during the next fortnight.

Aro Muric will be with Kosovo, Sammie Szmodics, Dara O'Shea and Chiedozie Ogbene with the Republic of Ireland, Cameron Burgess with Australia, Jens Cajuste with Sweden, Axel Tuanzebe with DR Congo, Liam Delap and Omari Hutchinson with the England U21s and Cieran Slicker with their Scotland counterparts.

Photo: Matchday Images

bobble added 10:22 - Sep 1 Great experience for him
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Len_Brennan added 11:12 - Sep 1 I thought Omari has full caps for Jamaica. Just friendlies presumably, so they don't tie him to playing for them?
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legoman added 11:38 - Sep 1 I love Al's supreme confidence when he enters the pitch. he will make the grade and impress in the Prem.
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Runner added 13:55 - Sep 1 That is a whole team away on international duty, but of course there is two goalkeeper in there. We will not be able to work on team integration with that lot away.
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NITFC added 17:20 - Sep 1 He deserves it. Impressive performances this season and our manager clearly likes him, hence the fact that he is still at Portman Road. Well done Ali
2

USA added 06:27 - Sep 2 NITFC He’s at Portman Rd rather than out on loan because we didn’t sign a striker, but that wasn’t the aim. A years loan to a lower league club would probably have been better for him.
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jayceee added 07:29 - Sep 2 @USA Pretty sure that's correct. However, he has a unique opportunity to impress with the handful of sub appearances he may get while Hirst and Broadhead return to full fitness. If he impresses and gives KmK a selection headache, then remaining will of course be good for him. The likely scenario is for him to get a bit of EPL experience and then perhaps be loaned out in the new year, but I believe the extra few months here will probably be good for him too.

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JewellintheTown added 11:45 - Sep 2 Mixed blessing for all the players involved in internationals, especially Omari & Delap getting gelling time together, but not with the wider team. Shame we're losing so much of our back line/ keepers. Hopefully they all come back full of confidence and experience but unscathed, as that'll dent our progress.
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johnwarksshorts added 16:59 - Sep 2 14 in for training then for 2 weeks maybe they should fill the spaces with u21s.
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Linkboy13 added 10:13 - Sep 3 He needs game time he's not going to improve sitting on the bench and anyone who knows a bit about football can see he's a long way off Premier league standard.
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