Zhu revealed his final squad of 23 on Thursday, and while there were places for overseas-based players Zheng Zhi, Sun Jihai, Shao Jiayi and Dong Fangzhuo, the main talking point was the omission of Li - the leading scorer in Chinese professional football history.

"Li Jinyu is a talented striker," explained Zhu. "But he is not in good form and wouldn't be a real threat to our rivals in the Asian Cup."

Li was the top scorer in the China Super League last season with 26 goals as he helped Shandong Luneng to run away with the title.

However the 30-year-old, who had a spell with French side Nancy in 1999, has been in indifferent form this year with only five goals in the league and three in the AFC Champions League, all of them against Vietnamese side Dong Tam Long An.

It was not enough to convince Zhu, who opted for Li's Shandong team-mate Han Peng, Manchester United prospect Dong, Qingdao Zhongneng striker Qu Bo and the Dalian Shide pair of Zhu Ting and Wang Peng as his forwards.

Zhu, who took charge of the national team in 2005 after leading Shenzhen Jianlibao to the Chinese league title, has been under pressure from fans after seeing his side suffer defeats in recent friendlies against Thailand and the United States.

The China coach intends to fine-tune the squad following the return of Zheng Zhi - who recently completed a loan spell at Charlton Athletic - and Manchester City defender Sun Jihai. Neither player appeared in China's recent friendlies.

While Zhu has no space in his squad for Li Jinyu, he has kept faith with midfielder Li Tie, who is on the books of Sheffield United but did not appear in the Premiership last season after suffering a broken leg three years ago.

"He helps the squad spirit even if he is only on the bench," said Zhu of his decision to include the 29-year-old. "He often shouts to encourage the team-mates, keeping them focussed."

Zhu also selected five players from the Under-23 national team including Shandong midfielder Zhou Haibin and Shanghai Shenhua left winger Mao Jianqing, in an effort to spark his senior players, while former skipper Li Weifeng was included despite still recovering from injury.

China will play their Group C matches at the Asian Cup in Kuala Lumpur against Iran, Uzbekistan and co-hosts Malaysia.

China squad: Li Leilei (Shandong Luneng), Yang Jun (Tianjin Teda); Du Wei (Shanghai Shenhua), Zhang Yaokun (Dalian Shide), Li Weifeng (Shanghai Shenhua), Sun Xiang (Shanghai Shenhua), Sun Jihai (Manchester City), Ji Mingyi (Dalian Shide), Cao Yang (Tianjin Teda), Zhang Shuai (Beijing Guoan); Li Tie (Sheffield United), Wang Dong (Changchun Yatai), Zhao Xuri (Dalian Shide), Shao Jiayi (Energie Cottbus), Zheng Zhi (Shandong Luneng), Zhou Haibin (Shandong Luneng), Mao Jianqing (Shanghai Shenhua), Zheng Bin (Wuhan Huanghelou); Han Peng (Shandong Luneng), Wang Peng (Dalian Shide), Qu Bo (Qingdao Zhongneng), Dong Fangzhuo (Manchester United), Zhu Ting (Dalian Shide).

Reserves: Chen Dong (Dalian Shide), Zong Lei (Changchun Yatai); Xu Yunlong (Beijing Guoan), Xin Feng (Shenzhen Kingway); Tao Wei (Beijing Guoan), Du Zhenyu (Changchun Yatai), Li Yan (Shaanxi Baorong).