Argentina manager Gerardo Martino has defended his choice not to include Juventus striker Carlos Tevez in his latest squad, claiming that he has a glut of strikers at his disposal and is not able to include them all.

The former Manchester United and Manchester City forward is on form for the Serie A club, scoring six goals in six games, but despite this has been overlooked for the Albiceleste ahead of their friendlies in Asia.

Martino is quoted as saying by Marca: "[Tevez] won't make the squad because the press call for it, he'll make it because I call him up. If he keeps playing as he is, he'll get a call-up next time or in March. It's just a matter of time.

"If I'd called up [Mauro] Icardi, Tevez, [Gonzalo] Higuain and [Sergio] Aguero, we'd have to field four centre-forwards. This time I picked Higuain and Aguero for that position."

Tevez scored 13 goals in 64 matches for Argentina between 2004 and 2011 before being frozen out by ex-manager Alejandro Sabella.