Quito: Ecuador included temperamental Argentina-based striker Ivan Kaviedes in their 23-man World Cup squad on Tuesday (As reported in Wednesday’s Late City edtion).

Kaviedes, who has also played in Italy, Spain, Mexico, England and Portugal, made his last appearance for Ecuador in their 5-2 World Cup qualifying win over Paraguay in March 2005.

Injured forward Franklin Salas was the major absentee, while Damian Lanza got the nod as the third-choice goalkeeper and coach Luis Fernando Suarez gave surprise call-ups to central defender Jose Luis Perlaza and striker Cristian Benitez.

Kaviedes’ career has been hit by disciplinary problems that have restricted his appearances at club and international level. He plays for struggling Argentinos Juniors where he has been unable to hold down a first-team place.

But he has scored important goals for Ecuador in the past, including one that gave them a historic 1-0 win over Brazil in 2001 and the equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Uruguay to book their place at the 2002 World Cup.

Salas, 24, is known as the Little Magician because of his trickery but he has been unable to recovery from an operation to his right knee eight months ago.

The 23

Goalkeepers: Edwin Villafuerte (Deportivo Quito), Cristian Mora (LDU), Damian Lanza (Aucas)

Defenders: Ivan Hurtado (Al Arabi, Qatar), Giovanny Espinoza (LDU), Ulises de la Cruz (Aston Villa, England), Paul Ambrossi (LDU), Neicer Reasco (LDU), Jorge Guagua (El Nacional), Jose Luis Perlaza (Olmedo)

Midfielders: Marlon Ayovi (Deportivo Quito), Edwin Tenorio (Barcelona), Edison Mendez (LDU), Patricio Urrutia (LDU), Cristian Lara (El Nacional), Segundo Castillo (El Nacional), Luis Antonio Valencia (Recreativo Huelva, Spain), Luis Fernando Saritama (Deportivo Quito)

Forwards: Cristian Benitez (El Nacional), Felix Borja (El Nacional), Carlos Tenorio (Al Sadd, Qatar), Agustin Delgado (LDU), Ivan Kaviedes (Argentinos Juniors, Argentina)