Iran’s first game comes at home to Syria at the Azadi Stadium, Tehran, on Thursday 2 September, kick-off 5pm UK time. They then travel to the Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, to take on neighbours Iraq on Tuesday 7 September, kick-off 7pm UK time.

These games are Iran’s first of ten in Group A which will decide Asia’s four qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The top two sides in each of the two groups will qualify automatically with the two third-placed sides playing each other before facing a side from South America, North and Central America, or Oceania in the Intercontinental Play-Offs.

Saman played all four of Iran’s internationals in the summer as four straight wins secured their passage through the Second Round of Qualifying. That took Saman’s number of appearances for his nation to 26, with two goals.

The 27-year-old made his first Premier League start on Saturday, helping us to a 1-1 draw away at Aston Villa. He also played the full 90 minutes against Forest Green Rovers in last week’s Carabao Cup tie and came off the bench late on during our goalless draw at Crystal Palace to pass his half-century of Brentford appearances.