Chelsea's Pedro returns to Spain squad but no Marcos Alonso or Cesc Febregas

By PA Sport

Friday 17 March 2017 14:22, UK

Chelsea forward Pedro has been recalled to Spain's squad for the World Cup Qualifier against Israel and a friendly with France.

Pedro returns to Julen Lopetegui's squad along with AC Milan's Everton loanee Gerard Deulofeu, but there is no place for his Stamford Bridge team-mates Marcos Alonso and Cesc Fabregas,

Deulofeu's only Spain cap so far came in 2014 but the 23-year-old playmaker has caught the eye of Lopetegui with his performances in Serie A.

Lopetegui said: "He was not playing consistently at his previous team, but since joining Milan he has taken on an important role, is at a good level and has improved with the things that we felt he had to improve on.

"He can help us and we like him."

World Cup-winner Pedro and uncapped Real Sociedad midfielder Asier Illarramendi have also been included in the 25-man Spain squad, along with several big guns who were absent last time out.

Chelsea striker Diego Costa, Barcelona trio Gerard Pique, Andres Iniesta and Jordi Alba, Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos and Javi Martinez of Bayern Munich all sat out November's games against Macedonia and England through injury but are now back in the fold.

Lopetegui added: "Pedro is a long-established name in the national team, he is performing at a good level, is the perfect age and is producing for Chelsea.

"We know Illarramendi well. He's been playing very well for a long time. It's the ideal moment to bring him back in. He's got some specific characteristics which can be good for us."

However, there is no place again for record-breaking goalkeeper Iker Casillas, or the likes of Athletic Bilbao forward Aritz Aduriz, Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata, or Chelsea duo Alonso and Fabregas.

Lopetegui said: "Marcos Alonso is playing very well at Chelsea with a different system. We've watched him but we've decided on (Nacho) Monreal and Jordi Alba.

"It's true that Cesc is playing more minutes in his team and it's true that we've also thought about his inclusion, we had Cesc in our minds.

"It's not easy to finalise the list, there are a lot of players on the pre-list which we like, but in the end we've finalised the squad with the players we feel have to have more presence with us. But we don't choose some and discard others because it is an ongoing thing."

Spain play Israel in a World Cup qualifier in Gijon on Friday, March 24 - live on Sky Sports - and four days later take on France in a friendly in Paris.

The 2010 World Cup winners are top of Group G on goal difference from Italy, with both nations on 10 points after four games. Israel are third with nine points.

Spain squad to play Israel and France: De Gea (Manchester United), Reina (Napoli), Rico (Sevilla); Alba (Barcelona), Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Monreal (Arsenal), Carvajal (Real Madrid), Nacho (Real Madrid), Pique (Barcelona), Ramos (Real Madrid), J Martinez (Bayern Munich); Illarramendi (Real Sociedad), Herrera (Manchester United), Busquets (Barcelona), Iniesta (Barcelona), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Isco (Real Madrid), Thiago (Bayern Munich), Silva (Manchester City), Deulofeu (AC Milan); Pedro (Chelsea), Costa (Chelsea), Vitolo (Sevilla), Morata (Real Madrid), Aspas (Celta Vigo).

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