Ai Kesen, Jiang Guangtai named to China's World Cup qualifiers squad.

Jiang Guangtai, the midfielder of Chinese club Shandong Luneng, has been named in the preliminary list for China's World Cup qualifying squad. The move comes as a surprise after he missed out on the previous round of qualifiers due to injury.

The 27-year-old Jiang is known for his technical ability and creativity, and was part of the Chinese national team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also played a key role in helping Shandong Luneng win the league title last season.

However, Jiang has struggled with injuries over the past few years, and his inclusion in the preliminary list could be seen as a sign of his continued fitness and form. If he manages to make the final cut for the World Cup qualifiers, it will be a major boost for China's chances of reaching the tournament.

China will face Australia and Japan in their first two matches of the qualifying campaign, which begins in September. Jiang will be hoping to play a key role in securing a place in the group stage of the competition, where China will face stronger opponents such as Brazil and France.