Iran’s national manager Carlos Queiroz has been keeping an eye on Peterborough defender Ryan Sirous Tafazolli who, though born in England, is qualified to play for the country through his father.

The 6ft 5in defender, who started out in the same Southampton academy team as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, has had rave reviews since moving from Mansfield in the summer.

Queiroz, best known here from his days as Sir Alex Ferguson’s No 2 at Old Trafford, will have noted that 25-year-old Tafazolli got on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win at Charlton which moved Peterborough

into the League One play-off places.

Queiroz has previously sought the services of many different Iranian dual nationality players. Only Reza Ghoochannejad and Ashkan Dejagah remain with team.