Lionel Messi’s announcement that he will not be retiring from international duty stole the headlines but Edgardo Bauza has followed it up with his first Argentina squad and aside from the return of the Barcelona star, El Patón has caused further surprise by not naming Gonzalo Higuaín and calling up Lucas Alario and Lucas Pratto.

Argentina face Uruguay on September 1st before a trip to Venezuela on the 6th with CONMEBOL World Cup qualification finely balanced.

Edgardo Bauza has not had long to assemble his first squad and after spending the last couple of days in Barcelona speaking to Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano has named a similar looking but somewhat surprising 27-man group.

Higuaín looked visibly out of shape in his recent Juventus debut in pre-season but the inclusion of River Plate youngster Lucas Alario and Atlético Mineiro striker Lucas Pratto will cause much debate.

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Mariano Andujar, Nahuel Guzman

Defenders: Facundo Roncaglia, Matteo Musacchio, Ramiro Funes Mori, Emmanuel Más, Marcos Rojo, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta, Gabriel Mercado, Nicolás Otamendi

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia, Matías Kranevitter, Augusto Fernández, Éver Banega, Javier Pastore, Érik Lamela, Nicolá Gaitan, Ángel Di María

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Ángel Correa, Lucas Alario, Sergio Agüero, Paulo Dybala, Lucas Pratto