Tasnim - Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has praised Tractor Sazi goalkeeper Mohammad Reza Akhbari’s steady progression ahead of the 2016 AFC Champions League.

Over the last 18 months, Mohammadreza Akhbari has established himself as one of the up-and-coming goalkeepers in Iran, a nation that has an abundance of talent between the posts.

After starting his career at Saipa, the 23-year-old joined Tractor Sazi Tabriz on a two-year loan deal ahead of the current domestic season in Iran and has continued to develop his unquestioned talents.

His composed performances in goal prompted Iran U-23 coach Mohammad Khakpour to make him his starting goalkeeper at the AFC U-23 Championship in Doha earlier this year, and he was a key influence in the country’s run to the quarter-finals.

Akhbari’s steady progression has seen him called up to the full national squad by head coach Carlos Queiroz and it can only be a matter of time before he earns his first senior appearance for Team Melli.

Despite his youth, Akhbari brings a calming presence to the defence with his impressive shot stopping ability, lightning reflexes and positioning prowess making the young goalkeeper an imposing final line of defence for Tractorsazi Tabriz, the-afc wrote.