SWINDON Town are praying that Yaser Kasim is called up for Iraq’s next friendly with Peru on September 4.

With Massimo Luongo and Brad Smith having both been called up to play in friendlies for Australia, Swindon need one more call-up from their squad in order to have their clashing fixture with Chesterfield rearranged.

If Kasim is not selected Town boss Mark Cooper faces the unenviable task of trying to fill the holes left by his star midfielder and starting left wing-back.

Cooper said: “We’ll lose two key players out of our team. We’re praying that Iraq call Yasser up so we can call the game off.

“You need three players to be called up to get a game rearranged. MK Dons have just got theirs called off (against Sheffield United).

“It’s a little bit unfair I think that we’re going to have to go into a game without two of our key players but we obviously knew that when we signed them.”

Luongo and Smith’s call-ups were announced last night, with the Liverpool loanee in line to make his international debut for the Socceroos. Ange Postecoglu’s side take on Belgium in Liege on September 4 and Saudi Arabia at Craven Cottage four days later.

Kasim played in Iraq’s last fixture, a 3-1 win over China, which saw the Lions of Mesopotamia qualify for the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia.