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​Man Utd youngster Iqbal honoured to link up with Iraq senior squad

Manchester United midfielder Zidane Iqbal is excited to play for the Iraqi national team.

The United academy star, who is a Mancunian of both Pakistani and Iraqi heritage, has chosen Iraq as his senior national team.

Iqbal received the call-up, and is set to make his full debut during the next international break.

"I'm very excited," Zidane told MUTV.

"It's another milestone I'm going to hit, my first-team debut for Iraq. I'm looking forward to it and it's a big game, so hopefully we can win.

"I feel that this is the right decision for me in my career. It'll be such an honour to represent Iraq. My family are proud of me and I just feel that it'll be a forward step in my career, playing in the World Cup qualifiers, in big games. It'll be a massive honour."

He added: "I've grown up in Manchester my whole life so I'd say I'm a proud Mancunian.

"But I'm also proud of my heritage as well. I'm proud of being English, Pakistani, and Iraqi.

"Me choosing to play for Iraq doesn't mean I'm not a proud Mancunian or a proud Pakistani.

"I just feel this is the right opportunity for me as a player, the right step in my career and an honour, but it definitely doesn't take away the fact that I'm a Mancunian and a Pakistani as well."

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Freddie Taylor

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