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Cristiano Ronaldo returns to Portugal squad for World Cup qualifiers

Cristiano Ronaldo returns as one of four changes to the Portugal squad for their World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and the Faroe Islands.

The Real Madrid forward suffered a knee injury in the final of Euro 2016 and in his absence Portugal began their 2018 qualifying campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland.

They will be confident of getting back on track in Group B against two of European football's traditional minnows and will welcome back their talisman as an additional boost.

Coach Fernando Santos told fpf.pt: "The squad is stronger because it has Cristiano, but mostly because the other players have more minutes, longer work, more training under their belts. This was one of the problems against Switzerland."

That craving for regular playing time has seen left-backs Eliseu and Fabio Coentrao left out, with Dynamo Kiev's Antunes getting the nod.

Braga goalkeeper Marafona and Sporting Lisbon winger Gelson Martins are the other players added to the squad, with Eduardo and Neto missing out. There is also no place for veteran defender Ricardo Carvalho, still unattached after leaving Monaco in the summer.

Santos will field two up front -- "Ronaldo and another" -- adding that: "Portugal always play with two strikers and will play in the same strategy. It is safe.

"The spirit we showed in the Euro is our trademark and we must keep that. We have to leave behind the European champions 'party' mode, that cannot happen again."

The full Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Anthony Lopes (Lyon), Marafona (Braga), Rui Patricio (Sporting)

Defenders: Antunes (Dynamo Kiev), Bruno Alves (Cagliari), Cedric Soares (Southampton), Jose Fonte (Southampton), Joao Cancelo (Valencia), Pepe (Real Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Adrien Silva (Sporting), William Carvalho (Sporting), Andre Gomes (Barcelona), Danilo Pereira (Porto), Joao Mario (Inter Milan), Joao Moutinho (Monaco), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich)

Forwards: Andre Silva (Porto), Bernardo Silva (Monaco), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Eder (Lille), Gelson Martins (Sporting), Nani (Valencia), Ricardo Quaresma (Besiktas)