Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has included Pepe in his provisional 24-man squad for the World Cup finals.
Real defender among 24 names in provisional squad
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz has included Pepe in his provisional 24-man squad for the World Cup finals in South Africa.
Real Madrid defender Pepe has been sidelined since December due to a knee injury and is battling to be fit for next month's tournament.
He has been given time to prove his fitness for the competition after being included in the preliminary squad, which will be reduced to 23 names by 1st June.
Queiroz said: "Unknowns can emerge from the time the players get together and we want to be sure that when the time comes to take decisions everyone will be ready."
Former Manchester United assistant manager Queiroz has included four Premier League-based players in his squad, including Chelsea trio Paulo Ferreira, Ricardo Carvalho and Deco.
United winger Nani is also in the party, along with his former Old Trafford team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo, who will be expected to be one of the stars of the World Cup.
Portugal have been drawn in Group G in South Africa and open their campaign against the Ivory Coast on 15th June before facing North Korea and Brazil.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Eduardo (Sporting Braga), Daniel Fernandes (Iraklis), Beto (Porto).
Defenders: Miguel (Valencia), Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea), Bruno Alves (Porto), Pepe (Real Madrid), Rolando (Porto), Ricardo Costa (Lille), Ze Castro (Deportivo), Duda (Malaga), Fabio Coentrao (Benfica).
Midfielders: Pedro Mendes (Sporting Lisbon), Tiago (Atletico Madrid), Deco (Chelsea), Raul Meireles (Porto), Miguel Veloso (Sporting Lisbon), Simao (Atletico Madrid), Nani (Manchester United).
Forwards: Danny (Zenit), Liedson (Sporting Lisbon), Hugo Almeida (Werder Bremen), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid).
