ST PETERSBURG (Reuters) – Zenit St Petersburg have recalled leading striker Alexander Kerzhakov to the first team after he made peace with coach Luciano Spalletti, the Russian champions said on Friday.

"Kerzhakov had a talk with Spalletti after which the Italian coach said he could train with the first team again," a club spokesman said.

Zenit St. Petersburg's Alexander Kerzhakov reacts on the pitch during their Champions League soccer match against Malaga at La Rosaleda stadium in Malaga September 18, 2012. REUTERS/Marcelo del Pozo

Kerzhakov was demoted to the reserve team on Sunday for "improper behaviour".

The spokesman said midfielder Igor Denisov, who was also demoted after he refused to play and issued an ultimatum to renegotiate his contract, would remain with the reserves until he apologised for his actions.

A source within the club said Kerzhakov’s situation was different from Denisov’s as the striker, unlike his team mate, had not been demanding a pay increase.

On Thursday, Russia coach Fabio Capello included Denisov and Kerzhakov in his 36-man squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Portugal and Azerbaijan.

Kerzhakov, who has scored six goals in nine league games for Zenit this season, is available to play against Lokomotiv Moscow on Saturday as well as to face AC Milan in Wednesday’s Champions League Group C match.

(Reporting By Gennady Fyodorov; Editing by Clare Fallon)

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