Manchester United's Park Ji-Sung headlines youthful South Korean squad for Iran friendly

Kim Ju-Young and Seok Hyun-Joon set for international debuts...

31 Aug 2010 09:39:00

By Chris Paraskevas

More On :  South Korea, Ji-Sung Park
Park Ji-Sung, South Korea (Getty Images)
Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-Sung will headline a youthful South Korean squad to take on Iran in a friendly in Seoul on September 7.

Manager Cho Kwang-rae has elected to call up only one player over the age of 30 in his 23-man squad; former Tottenham Hotspur defender Lee Young-Pyo, who is now playing for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

It is the names of defender Kim Ju-Young and striker Suk Hyun-Joon that have caught the most attention though, with both players set for their senior international debuts.

“I’m looking for a young striker. Suk is tall and athletic and has good skills," Cho said.

"I will test him to see whether he can be a substitute for Park [Chu-Young]."

As it stands Park and 19 year-old Suk are the only two strikers in the squad, the latter having joined Dutch giants Ajax this season.

Gyeongnam centre-back Kim Ju-Young is also set for his debut at 22 and will be familiar with the methods of Cho, having played under him at his K-League club before he was appointed national team manager this year.

“It is hard to find anyone with more speed than Kim in central defense,” Cho said.

“Though he still has weaknesses to play at international level, I will test his skills in the Iran match."

South Korea squad:

Goalkeepers: Kim Young-Kwang (Ulsan, South Korea), Jung Sung-Ryong (Seongnam, South Korea)

Defenders: Cho Yong-Hyung (Al Rayyan, Qatar), Kwak Tae-Hwi (Kyoto, Japan), Lee Jung-Soo (Al Sadd, Qatar), Kim Young-Kwon (FC Tokyo, Japan), Hong Jung-Ho (Jeju Utd, South Korea), Kim Ju-Young (Gyeongnam, South Korea), Lee Young-Pyo (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Choi Hyo-Jin (FC Seoul, South Korea), Cha Du-Ri (Celtic, Scotland), Park Joo-Ho (Jubilo Iwata, Japan)

Midfielders: Ki Sung-Yong (Celtic, Scotland), Kim Jung-Woo (Gwangju, South Korea), Kim Do-Heon (Suwon, South Korea), Yoon Bit-Garam (Gyeongnam, South Korea), Lee Chung-Yong (Bolton, England), Kim Bo-Kyung (Oita Trinita, Japan), Park Ji-Sung (Manchester United, Engand), Yeom Ki-Hun (Suwon, South Korea), Cho Young-Cheol (Albirex Niigata, Japan)

Forwards: Park Chu-Young (AS Monaco, France), Suk Hyun-Jun (Ajax, Netherlands)

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