Manchester City striker Roque Santa Cruz has been recalled to the Paraguay squad after a long injury absence for this month's friendlies against Qatar and the Netherlands.

More Stories

• Australia at full strength for Oman match
• New Zealand install extra seats for play-off

Santa Cruz missed Paraguay's eight World Cup qualifiers this year in which they secured their place in South Africa for their fourth consecutive finals. The 28-year-old played at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

Paraguay play Qatar in Paris on Nov. 14 and the Netherlands in Heerenveen four days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Justo Villar (Valladolid), Aldo Bobadilla (Independiente Medellin), Diego Barreto (Cerro Porteno)

Defenders: Julio Cesar Caceres, Claudio Morel (both Boca Juniors), Denis Caniza (Nacional), Carlos Bonet (Olimpia), Dario Veron (Pumas UNAM), Paulo Da Silva (Sunderland), Aureliano Torres (San Lorenzo), Antolin Alcaraz (Club Bruges)

Midfielders: Juan Rodrigo Rojas (Olimpia), Enrique Vera (LDU Quito), Nestor Ortigoza (Argentinos Juniors), Cristian Riveros (Cruz Azul), Jonathan Santana (VfL Wolfsburg), Victor Caceres (Libertad), Osvaldo Martinez (Monterrey), Eduardo Ledesma (Lanus)

Forwards: Roque Santa Cruz (Manchester City), Salvador Cabanas (America), Nelson Haedo (Borussia Dortmund), Oscar Cardozo (Benfica), Edgar Benitez (Pachuca), Jorge Achucarro (Newell's Old Boys), Dante Lopez (Pumas UNAM).