Suarez set for Uruguay return

Luis Suarez is next week expected to make his first international appearance since biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

The Barcelona striker was Friday named in Oscar Tabarez's 22-man squad for away friendlies against Saudi Arabia Oct 10 and Oman three days later, reports Xinhua.

"We've been given the chance to have him back. He is a player we don't want to lose contact with regardless of whether he can play or not," Tabarez said during a press conference here.

Suarez was initially banned for nine international matches and prohibited from all football activity for four months following the biting incident in June.

But the 27-year-old is free to play in friendlies after winning an August appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Uruguay will be without Edinson Cavani for the Middle East tour after the Paris Saint-Germain striker asked to be rested.

Meanwhile, Tabarez has extended his coaching contract with Uruguay until the 2018 World Cup.

The 67-year-old took charge of the Celeste from 1988 to 1990 before beginning his current spell as coach in 2006. He guided the team to the semifinals of the 2010 World Cup and victory at the 2011 Copa America.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco Da Gama)

Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Benfica), Diego Godin, Jose Maria Gimenez (both Atletico Madrid), Emiliano Velazquez (Getafe), Gaston Silva (Torino), Martin Caceres (Juventus), Alvaro Pereira (Sao Paulo), Mathias Corujo (Universidad de Chile).

Midfielders: Egidio Arevalo Rios (UANL Tigres), Diego Arismendi (Nacional), Camilo Mayada (Danubio), Gaston Ramirez (Hull City), Nicolas Lodeiro (Corinthians), Cristian Rodriguez (Atletico Madrid), Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Defensor Sporting).

Forwards: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Cristhian Stuani (Espanyol), Abel Hernandez (Hull City), Diego Rolan (Bordeaux), Jonathan Rodriguez (Penarol).