SARAJEVO (Reuters) - Bosnia coach Miroslav Blazevic is hoping uncapped midfielder Haris Medunjanin will be granted approval by FIFA in time to make his debut in the two-legged World Cup playoff against Portugal later this month.

Blazevic included Medunjanin in his squad for the ties on Nov.14 in Lisbon and Zenica four days later but the Real Valladolid midfielder must first get clearance after playing for the Dutch under-21 squad.

"The procedure for changing his soccer nationality is in progress and we expect a positive reply from FIFA by the end of the week," Blazevic told a news conference on Wednesday.

"We've asked for a summary procedure because we are running out of time and we are all hoping that Medunjanin will be cleared to play for us," added Bosnia's FA secretary general Munib Usanovic.

Medunjanin, 24, fled the war in Bosnia to the Netherlands with his mother and sister in 1992 and won back-to-back under-21 European Championships with the Dutch in 2006 and 2007.

His father was unable to leave with them and was later killed in the 1992-95 conflict.

Medunjanin played for Dutch first division sides AZ Alkmaar and Sparta Rotterdam before joining Valladolid in 2008.

BAD WEATHER

Blazevic, who steered Croatia to the 1998 World Cup semi-finals, has opted to set up Bosnia's training base for the playoff against Portugal in Croatia's coastal resort of Novi Vinodolski due to its mild winter climate.

"The conditions in Sarajevo are no longer ideal because of bad weather and we have opted for Novi Vinodolski because its climate is very similar to Portugal's at this time of the year.

"I have never been involved in a more important match in my career, there is a lot of pressure and great expectations among the fans so we mustn't let them down," said Blazevic.

The wily 74-year old, aiming to take the Bosnians to their first major tournament as an independent nation, acknowledged his team face a suspension nightmare with nine players in danger of missing the return leg if booked.

"We can't imagine that we will get through the first leg without any new bookings because the Portuguese force yellow cards from the opposition with their skill and ball control.

"We have a lot of players who are in a precarious position and that's why I have called up 26 players for the two games."

(editing by Justin Palmer; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)