SWINDON Town midfielder Yaser Kasim has been called up to play in a friendly for Iraq next month.

The 25-year-old looked likely to be one of Iraq’s three overage players heading to the Olympic Games in two weeks’ time, however, a disciplinary issue has seen him left out of the 18-man squad.

Kasim, who has a chequered past with his national side, having briefly retired from international football last year, is reported to have not returned to a pre-Rio training camp following his designated time away and was unresponsive to calls from team manager Karim Farhan, resulting in the player being dropped.

However, Iraq national team coach Radi Shnaishel has called on the services of the Town midfielder to take part in a training camp in Qatar, followed by a friendly with the southwest Asian country on Monday, August 8.

As a result, Kasim could miss the opening game of the season, with Town set to kick-off their campaign at home to Coventry City on Saturday, August 6.

Speaking on Kasim after Town’s friendly with Swindon Supermarine, head coach Luke Williams said: “Yaser was always expected to be back at this period because there was a training camp for three weeks and then there was a break, and then he’s due to go back for a second training camp in the build-up to the Olympics.

“I’m going to respect Yaser’s request to be given some time to make decisions and arrangements about what is going on with their side.

“He was expected to be on the pitch (against Marine) and take part in a week of training with us.”