Assistant coach Toni Grande has admitted that it will be "difficult" to select Barcelona defender Carles Puyol for Spain's World Cup squad this summer.

Puyol has made 100 appearances for his country, but after featuring in La Liga on just four occasions during the current campaign, Grande has revealed that the 35-year-old needs to play on a regular basis to be considered for a call-up.

The 66-year-old told La Xarxa: "I haven't ruled him out completely yet, but obviously he needs to play a lot more and be more involved in Barca's key matches.

"He hasn't been completely ruled out, as there's still three months until the World Cup, but it is looking very difficult for him."

Spain will face Italy in a friendly match on March 5.