Uncapped Urretaviscaya named in Uruguay football squad

Uruguay football team's coach Oscar Tabarez has named uncapped winger Jonathan Urretaviscaya in his squad for this month's 2018 World Cup qualifiers against Brazil and Peru.

As expected, Barcelona forward Luis Suarez and Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani were also included in the 26-man squad on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

Urretaviscaya has impressed Tabarez with his form for Mexico's Pachuca, with whom he has scored 13 times in 55 matches since his 2015 move from Penarol.

The 26-year-old's only previous international experience was with Uruguay's under-20 team.

Uruguay will host Brazil in Montevideo on March 23 before an away clash against Peru in Lima five days later.

The two-time World Cup winners will be without Suarez and goalkeeper Fernando Muslera for the match against Brazil due to suspension.

Tabarez's team is currently second in the CONMEBOL South American zone qualifying standings for the 2018 World Cup, four points behind leaders Brazil.

The top four teams at the end of the qualifying period will earn an automatic spot in the tournament in Russia while the fifth-ranked team will book a playoff place.

Uruguay squad:

Goalkeepers: Fernando Muslera (Galatasaray), Martin Silva (Vasco da Gama), Martin Campana (Independiente), Esteban Conde (Nacional).

Defenders: Maximiliano Pereira (Porto), Jose Maria Gimenez, Diego Godin (Atletico de Madrid), Sebastian Coates (Sporting de Lisboa), Gaston Silva (Granada), Alvaro Pereira (Cerro Porteno), Jorge Fucile (Nacional).

Midfielders: Giorgian De Arrascaeta (Cruzeiro), Mathias Corujo (San Lorenzo), Carlos Sanchez (Monterrey), Egidio Arevalo Rios (Chiapas), Matias Vecino (Fiorentina), Diego Laxalt (Genova), Alvaro Gonzalez (Nacional), Cristian Rodriguez (Penarol), Nicolas Lodeiro (Seattle Sounders).

Forwards: Luis Suarez (Barcelona), Edinson Cavani (PSG), Diego Rolan (Burdeos), Abel Hernandez (Hull City), Cristhian Stuani (Middlesbrough), Jonathan Urretaviscaya (Pachuca).

--IANS

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