QUITO, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- Former West Ham and Everton forward Enner Valencia was among 27 players named in Ecuador's squad on Thursday for friendlies against Trinidad and Tobago and Colombia.
Valencia has yet to score in 14 Liga MX appearances for Tigres UANL this season but was given the backing of interim Ecuador manager Jorge Celico.
The squad also included Seattle Sounders defender Xavier Arreaga, Los Angeles FC left-back Diego Palacios, Sporting Lisbon midfielder Gonzalo Plata and Orlando City midfielder Jhegson Mendez.
"What I've tried to do is give opportunities to young players, but also reward those who are performing well for their clubs," Celico told a news conference.
Ecuador will host Trinidad and Tobago in Portoviejo on November 14 before meeting Colombia in New Jersey five days later.
Following is the Ecuador squad:
Goalkeepers: Johan Padilla (El Nacional), Pedro Ortiz (Delfin), Brian Heras (Deportivo Cuenca)
Defenders: Andres Lopez (Universidad Catolica), Bryan Carabali (Emelec), Felix Torres (Santos de Mexico), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Moises Corozo (Macara), Franklin Guerra (Liga de Quito), Diego Palacios (Los Angeles), Gustavo Cortez (Catolica), Leonel Quinonez (Macara), Pedro Perlaza (Delfin)
Midfielders: Gonzalo Plata (Sporting Lisbon), Renato Ibarra (Club America), Marcos Caicedo (Barcelona), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca), Jhegson Mendez (Orlando City), Jose Cifuentes (America Quito), Jefferson Orejuela (Liga), Alan Franco (Independiente del Valle), Jordan Sierra (Queretaro)
Forwards: Enner Valencia (Tigres), Michael Estrada (Macara), Alejandro Cabeza (Independiente del Valle), Angel Mena (Leon, Fidel Martinez (Barcelona).
