Spain include injured Cesc, Torres in preliminary squad

(GSM) – Injured duo Cesc Fabregas and Fernando Torres have been included in Spain’s 30-man preliminary squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.

Arsenal captain Fabregas and Liverpool striker Torres are both recovering from injuries which had forced the duo to miss the end of the Premier League season.

Fabregas is making progress from the cracked fibula, suffered during the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League tie against Barcelona at the end of March.

And the midfielder declared over the weekend that he would be fit in time for the finals and expects to be ready to feature in a friendly against Saudi Arabia later this month.

While Torres recently underwent a knee operation and is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for the World Cup, which starts on 11th June.

But the prolific 26-year-old has has been included in the provisional Spain squad to prove his fitness to coach Vicente del Bosque and will be given every chance to prove his fitness.

The striker’s Liverpool team-mate Jose Reina is one of five goalkeepers in the preliminary party, along with Barcelona’s Victor Valdes.

Valdes’ Barcelona colleague Pedro is another uncapped player in the squad, while Atletico Madrid keeper David De Gea, Osasuna defender Cesar Azpilicueta and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez have yet to win senior honours.

Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta is also included in the squad after suffering from injury in recent weeks.

Del Bosque is expectantly going to trim his squad down to 23 names by 1st June ahead of Group H games against Chile, Honduras and Switzerland.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool), Diego Lopez (Villarreal), David De Gea (Atletico Madrid), Victor Valdes (Barcelona).

Defenders: Raul Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa (all Real Madrid), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Gerard Pique, Carles Puyol (both Barcelona), Carlos Marchena (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Osasuna).

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Real Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal), Sergio Busquets, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta (all Barcelona), Marcos Senna (Villarreal), Javier Martinez (Athletic Bilbao), David Silva (Valencia).

Forwards: Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce), Juan Manuel Mata, David Silva, David Villa (Valencia), Alvaro Negredo, Jesus Navas (both Sevilla), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), Santiago Cazorla (Villarreal), Pedro Rodriguez (Barcelona), Fernando Llorente (Athletic Bilbao).