Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho has pulled out of Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Bolivia with a knee problem.
The 20-year-old, who played the full 90 minutes of United’s 0-0 Premier League draw at Aston Villa on Sunday with a strapping on his left knee, has been replaced in the Argentina squad by Leicester City’s Facundo Buonanotte.
The world champions are top of the South American qualifying standings – two points ahead of second-placed Colombia.
Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina travel to sixth-placed Venezuela on Thursday and host Bolivia, who are eighth, next Tuesday.
Garnacho has won seven caps for his country and helped Argentina clinch a record 16th Copa America title in the summer.
Meanwhile, Garnacho’s United team-mate, Noussair Mazraoui, 26, has withdrawn from Morocco’s squad for their Africa Cup of Nations double header against the Central African Republic.
Mazraoui was replaced at half-time in the Midlands, having started every league match for the club since arriving from Bayern Munich in August.