Gerardo Martino has responded to the withdrawals of Lionel Messi, Rodrigo Palacio and Ezequiel Garay through injury and recalled Erik Lamela and Nicolás Gaitán. Both players have only 6 appearances for La Albiceleste and these absences give both an earlier than expected opportunity to impress the new coach.

With Messi, Palacio and Garay already confirmed to miss Wednesday’s clash with Germany and some doubts over Maxi Rodríguez and Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gerardo Martino has wasted no time in calling for replacements. Erik Lamela and Nicó Gaitán have already accepted the call and travelled to meet up with the group in Düsseldorf.

Although this squad was always going to be the 23 that travelled to Brazil, it will give a renewed optimism to Lamela and Gaitán as Martino has quickly viewed them as replacements. Lamela’s lack of football and form last season explained why he was overlooked by Sabella but Gaitán had produced some of the best football of his career. The 26-year-old Benfica midfielder will be buoyed to be part of Martino’s plans.

Squad for Germany friendly:

Sergio Romero (Sampdoria)
Mariano Andújar (Napoli)
Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City)
Federico Fernández (Swansea)
Marcos Rojo (Manchester United)
Hugo Campagnaro (Inter)
José María Basanta (Fiorentina)
Martín Demichelis (Manchester City)
Maximiliano Rodríguez (Newell’s)
Fernando Gago (Boca)
Javier Mascherano (Barcelona)
Lucas Biglia (Lazio)
Angel Di María (Manchester United)
Enzo Pérez (Benfica)
Augusto Fernández (Celta)
Ricardo Alvarez (Inter)
Erik Lamela (Tottenham)
Sergio Agüero (Manchester City)
Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli)
Ezequiel Lavezzi (PSG)
Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica)