MONTEVIDEO, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Uruguay manager Marcelo Bielsa has named uncapped striker Rodrigo Aguirre in his squad for the FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Brazil, the Uruguayan Football Association said on Tuesday.
Aguirre, 30, was rewarded for his impressive form for Mexico's America, for whom he has scored five goals in the current Liga MX campaign.
As expected, the 24-man squad includes Real Madrid playmaker Federico Valverde, Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur, who returns from suspension.
Uruguay will meet Colombia in Montevideo on Friday and Brazil in Salvador next Tuesday.
The Celeste is currently third in the South American zone standings with 16 points from 10 qualifiers, six points behind leader Argentina. Colombia is second and Brazil fourth in the 10-team group.
Uruguay squad:
Goalkeepers: Sergio Rochet, Santiago Mele, Franco Israel.
Defenders: Jose Maria Gimenez, Santiago Bueno, Nicolas Marichal, Juan Rodriguez, Mathias Olivera, Nahitan Nandez, Guillermo Varela, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Marcelo Saracchi.
Midfielders: Manuel Ugarte, Nicolas Fonseca, Federico Valverde, Rodrigo Bentancur, Facundo Pellistri, Maximiliano Araujo, Facundo Torres.
Forwards: Luciano Rodriguez, Brian Rodriguez, Cristian Olivera, Rodrigo Aguirre, Darwin Nunez. ■
