Ronaldo and Quaresma get Queiroz nod

Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has called up Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Inter Milan midfielder Ricardo Quaresma to his squad for upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Albania.

Ronaldo has only recently recovered from an ankle operation and will return to his national squad for the first time since playing in the Euro 2008.

Queiroz has also called up Chelsea playmaker Deco, despite him being sidelined by his club Chelsea after picking up an injury during the warm-up to the 1-1 draw with Manchester United nearly two weeks ago.

Diagnosed with an upper thigh muscle tear, he was set to be out “for approximately two weeks”, according to a club statement.

Among the new faces to Queiroz’s 23-man squad is Sporting Lisbon defender Tonel, who comes in for injured Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho.

Also missing is Simao Sabrosa, of Atletico Madrid, and Pedro Mendes, of Rangers. Both midfielders played against qualifying opponents Malta and Denmark in August.

Portugal face Sweden on October 11 and Albania four days later.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Daniel Fernandes (Bochum/GER), Eduardo (Sporting Braga/POR), Quim (Benfica/POR)

Defenders: Bosingwa (Chelsea/ENG), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea/ENG), Tonel (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Bruno Alves (FC Porto/POR), Fernando Meira (Galatasaray/TUR), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Antunes (Lecce/ITA), Miguel (Valence/ESP)

Midfielders: Deco (Chelsea/ENG), Raul Meireles (FC Porto/POR), Carlos Martins (Benfica/POR), Joao Moutinho (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Maniche (Atletico Madrid/ESP), Danny (Dinamo Moscow/RUS), Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/ENG), Nani (Manchester United/ENG), Ricardo Quaresma (Inter Milan/ITA)

Strikers: Nuno Gomes (Benfica/POR), Yannick (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen/GER)