Sergio Aguero has been ruled out of Argentina’s forthcoming World Cup qualifying double-header against Uruguay and Venezuela due to a calf injury, the country’s football association announced yesterday.

The Manchester City striker came off in the 88th minute of Sunday’s 3-1 Premier League win against West Ham at the Etihad Stadium.

The Argentinian Football Association said that the 28-year-old picked up a calf problem during the game that had ruled him out of the home clash with Uruguay on Friday and the match in Venezuela the following Wednesday. While Aguero’s absence from the squad is confirmed, the AFA is waiting to see if returning forward Lionel Messi will feature.

The Barcelona player, who this month reversed his decision to retire from international football, has suffered a hamstring injury ahead of travelling to South America.

The damage was discovered by medical tests approved by Barca and the AFA, with the La Liga club revealing that Messi’s presence in the qualifying games “will depend on how the injury develops”.

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