Friday 30 September 2016 12:39, UK
Cesc Fabregas has not been included in Spain's squad for their upcoming World Cup qualifiers, amid a lack of playing time at Chelsea.
Spain face a tough trip to Italy on October 6 before a home tie against Albania three days later, live on Sky Sports 3, but manager Julen Lopetegui has again elected not to include Fabregas in his 23-man squad, although Chelsea team-mate Diego Costa keeps his place.
Fabregas has started just one Premier League game for Chelsea this season, the 3-0 defeat to Arsenal last Saturday in which he was substituted after 55 minutes.
The 29-year-old, who has played 110 times for Spain and was part of the team that won the 2010 World Cup as well as Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, was left out of Lopetegui's first squad after taking over as national team boss in August, while Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata earned a recall after missing out on Euro 2016.
But despite scoring in United's 4-1 win over Leicester City last weekend, Mata has not kept his place in the squad although team-mate David de Gea is included alongside Manchester City duo Nolito and David Silva.
Costa was also left out of Spain's squad for the European Championships, but has retained his place in Lopetegui's selection this time around, having scored five Premier League goals already this season and adding two for Spain in their last World Cup qualifier against Liechtenstein.
Full Spain squad:
Goalkeepers: David de Gea (Manchester United), Pepe Reina (Napoli) and Sergio Rico (Sevilla)
Defenders: Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Gerard Piqué (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Sergi Roberto (Barcelona), Nacho (Real Madrid) and Javi Martínez (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), David Silva (Manchester City), Thiago Alcántara (Bayern Munich), Saúl Ñíguez (Atlético Madrid), Koke (Atlético Madrid), Isco (Real Madrid), Andrés Iniesta (Barcelona)
Forwards: Álvaro Morata (Real Madrid), Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid), Nolito (Manchester City), José Callejón (Napoli), Diego Costa (Chelsea), Vitolo (Sevilla)
