Serbia & Montenegro coach Dusko Vujosevic has welcomed wayward centre Dejan Koturovic back into the national squad with the European Championships just weeks away.

Koturovic lost his rag during the world and European champions' 81-61 defeat by Greece in Thessaloniki last month and was consequently thrown out of the squad.

But Vujosevic has now had a change of heart - perhaps brought on by his players' wish to see the 31-year-old back in the squad - and was quick to praise Koturovic's attitude since his exclusion.

"Koturovic is again in our team again, and my original decision to exclude him seems to have had a good effect on him," he said.

"He showed an excellent attitude after he was excluded, and has demonstrated how keen he is play for Serbia & Montenegro again.

"Our players have been telling the captain Predrag Stojakovic that they wanted Koturovic back in the squad."

Belgrade-born Koturovic could now play in the two warm-up games against Greece in Vrsac on Sunday and in his home city a day later. And he is a virtual certainty to be selected for the squad for the European Championships in Sweden, which begin on September 5.

"I think that Vujosevic made excellent decision," claimed Koturovic.

"I made a mistake in Greece and I have apologised to the coach and my team-mates.

"My recall is a victory for Serbian basketball, not for me or for anyone else."

But Vujosevic was keen to sound a note of caution as his team prepare to defend their title next month.

"The decision to bring back Koturovic does not that the disciplinary code has been relaxed," he warned.

"Discipline is something that we always need."