Inverness striker Marius Niculae has been included in Romania's provisional 26-man squad for Euro 2008.The former Sporting Lisbon and Dinamo Bucharest frontman, who turns 27 on Friday, has scored 10 goals in his first season in Scotland.

Inverness manager Craig Brewster told www.ictfc.co.uk: "Everyone at the club is delighted for Marius and it is a just reward for his contribution this season.

"He has scored some good goals and has caught the eye on many occasions with his obvious talent."

Fiorentina striker Adrian Mutu, who faced Rangers in the UEFA Cup semi-finals, has also been included in Piturca's squad.

The squad will be trimmed to 23 players before the finals get under way in Austria and Switzerland next month.

Fourteen players are already present at a training camp in Belek, preparing for a May 22 friendly against Montenegro.

Romania begin their Euro 2008 campaign in Zurich against France on June 9, before facing world champions Italy four days later also in Zurich, and then concluding their Pool C matches against Holland in Berne on June 17.

Squad: Lobont (Dinamo Bucharest), Danut Coman (Rapid Bucharest), Marius Popa (FCU Politehnica Timisoara); Contra (Getafe), Tamas (Auxerre), Radu (Lazio), Rat (Shakhtar Donetsk), Chivu (Inter Milan), Sapunaru (Rapid Bucharest), Goian, Ghionea, Radoi (all Steaua Bucharest), Moti (Dinamo Bucharest); Petre (CSKA Sofia), Codrea (Siena), Cocis (Lokomotiv Moscow), Petre, Nicolita, Dica (all Steaua Bucharest), Cristea (Dinamo Bucharest); Mutu (Fiorentina), Marica (Stuttgart), D Niculae (Auxerre), M Niculae (Inverness), Bratu (Dinamo Bucharest), Deac (CFR 1907 Cluj).

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