Welcome return: Nadir Belhadj played a crucial role in ensuring his country re-entered the World Cup for the first time since 1986

Caps: 37
Goals: 4
World Cup appearances: None
World Cup 2010 qualification: 11 appearances/1 goal

Club: Portsmouth
Age: 27
Position: Defender

Belhadj has established himself in the Portsmouth first team after signing for the club in September 2008, initially on a season-long loan, and then in a £4 million transfer from French club Lens.

A left-back who can also play as a left-winger, he is best known for his free-kick prowess, scoring his first international goals for Algeria in 2007 with two spectacular strikes in a friendly against Argentina.

He began his career at Lens before moving down a division to play for Gueugnon and Sedan. He was bought by Lyon in 2007, but found his opportunities limited by first-choice left-back Fabio Grosso, and made just nine appearances for the club before moving back to Lens.

A former France international at under-18 level, Belhadj made his debut for Algeria in 2004 and played in 11 of Algeria’s 13 qualifiers, including the ill-tempered play-off game with Egypt that secured World Cup qualification for the first time since 1986.

He scored a crucial goal against Rwanda last month, but picked up four yellow cards over the course of the qualification campaign.

Belhadj is one of two Algerian players at Fratton Park, the other being midfielder Hassan Yebda.