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Sunderland's Santiago Vergini earns Argentina call-up

Image: Santiago Vergini: Won his only cap against Brazil in 2012

Sunderland defender Santiago Vergini has been called up by Argentina for the first time since 2012 as part of a 19-man squad for next month's games against Brazil and Hong Kong.

Vergini will hope to add to his solitary cap when Argentina meet South American rivals Brazil on October 11 in Beijing, with the game against Hong Kong following three days later.

The 26-year-old is one of eight Premier League players in Gerardo Martino's squad, alongside Manchester City team-mates Martin Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta and Sergio Aguero, Manchester United pair Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo, Tottenham's Erik Lamela and Federico Fernandez of Swansea.

Tigres keeper Nahuel Guzman, Benfica midfielder Nicolas Gaitan and Juventus midfielder Roberto Pereyra are also included but there is no place for striker Carlos Tevez.

The former Manchester City striker was left out of Argentina's World Cup squad, but Martino has hinted at a potential recall for the 30-year-old, who has scored four goals in as many games for Juventus this season.

"Tevez is doing his job well on the field," said Martino. "As Carlitos had said in an interview, he is working hard in order to be selected."

Argentina squad: Sergio Romero (Sampdoria), Nahuel Guzman (Tigres); Mateo Musacchio (Villarreal), Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City), Martin Demichelis (Manchester City), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United), Santiago Vergini (Sunderland), Federico Fernandez (Swansea City); Javier Mascherano (Barcelona), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus), Lucas Biglia (Lazio), Javier Pastore (Paris St Germain), Angel di Maria (Manchester United), Erik Lamela (Tottenham), Enzo Perez (Benfica), Nicolas Gaitan (Benfica); Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli), Sergio Aguero (Manchester City).

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