AFC - BERLIN, Hamburg`s Iranian reserve forward Mehdi Mahdavikia has failed to get the vote of confidence from coach Thomas Doll.

Mahdavikia has not practised well enough in the winter training camp to warrant a return to the starting 11, the Kicker sports magazine quoted Hamburg coach Thomas Doll as saying.

"Those reserve players who try to make the first team, have not made it very difficult for me to think over my starting formation. It simply was not enough," said Doll, referring to irked reservists Mahdavikia and former German international midfielder Christian Rahn.

"There is no reason to make major changes," added the trainer.

A reserve player for the past five months, the former Persepolis striker has repeatedly expressed deep frustration over his benching but has ruled out an early transfer to another club.

Earning 2 million euros a year in Hamburg, Mahdavikia`s current contract runs through 2007.