LA Galaxy forward Giovani dos Santos was left off head coach Juan Carlos Osorio's first Mexico squad list because of lingering injury concerns, combined with the good form of other players, the manager said on Tuesday.
"Giovani isn't fully recovered from my point of view and I haven't had a chance to speak with him to let him know, but I hope to do that soon," Osorio said on Monday. "I hope he is better for the good of Mexican football and for sure we will take him into account in the future."
Dos Santos' last game for Mexico was on July 16. The 26-year-old was omitted from September's friendlies by interim coach Ricardo "Tuca" Ferretti, then named in the squad to face the United States last month, only to pull out with a muscle strain.
Dos Santos has since completed 90 minutes in three MLS matches, as Galaxy's season came to an end and Osorio did hint that the omission was also partially down to other players' form.
"For now, I don't see room [for Dos Santos], with the good form of the three," said Osorio, referring to strikers Raul Jimenez, Javier Hernandez and Oribe Peralta.
Osorio also said Dos Santos has stated his favorite role is behind a center forward, a position that may not exist under the Colombian coach.
Mexico faces El Savador on Friday and Honduras on Nov. 17 in World Cup qualifiers in Osorio's first matches in charge of the national team.
Only 19 of the 25 players were involved in Osorio's first training session on Monday, with Carlos Vela, Jonathan dos Santos, Raul Jimenez, Miguel Layun, Hector Herrera and Jesus Corona all due to show up later in the day after flying in from Europe.
Osorio confirmed that Vela is fit to play despite appearing to pick up a slight injury in Real Sociedad's 2-0 loss last Friday to Las Palmas.