Icardi named in Argentina's provisional 35-man World Cup squad

The 25-year-old has earned a spot in the first draft of picks from Albiceleste coach Jorge Sampaoli but may not make the final 23

Mauro Icardi has been included in 's 35-man provisional squad for the 2018 World Cup.

The star has been in great form in this term but has largely been frozen out of the national team, making just four appearances since his 2013 debut.

However, Jorge Sampaoli was unable to neglect the 25-year-old when it came to putting together his initial squad for the tournament in .

[SELECCIÓN MAYOR] Jorge Sampaoli dio a conocer la nómina de 35 jugadores preseleccionados para el Mundial de #Rusia2018. pic.twitter.com/skT2VIZ6Wh — Selección Argentina (@Argentina) May 14, 2018

Icardi joins fellow Serie A star Paulo Dybala, captain Lionel Messi and the injured Sergio Aguero in Sampaoli's plans.

Despite his 28-goal season in Serie A, Icardi is still expected to be cut from the team when Sampaoli narrows it down to 23.

The former and coach will name his final squad on May 13 in a press conference scheduled in Argentina's Ezeiza training complex.

Both Icardi and Dybala have seen their chances of making the final World Cup squad cast into doubt since Sampaoli left them out of the group for the international friendlies in March.

It has been suggested star Dybala will be part of the 23-man party heading to Russia, despite his indifferent form in the latter part of the season, while Inter striker Icardi is not expected to be included.

A knee injury kept Aguero out of Manchester City's last six games of the Premier League season, but it is expected he will be fully fit for the tournament.

Zenit midfielder Matias Kranevitter and forward Angel Correa have missed out on a place in the 35-man group, while there is predictably no sign of veteran Carlos Tevez.

Tevez's Boca team-mates Cristian Pavon and Pablo Perez, however, do get a call, as Sampaoli includes five Argentine Superliga names in his shortlist.

Alongside the Xeneize pair is River Plate goalkeeper Franco Armani and Racing's Lautaro Martinez and Ricardo Centurion.

Armani and Centurion are also among three uncapped players in the line-up, a list completed by midfielder Rodrigo Battaglia.

Argentina kick off their World Cup campaign against in Group D on June 14, before facing and in the battle to reach the knockout stages.

Argentina preliminary World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero, Nahuel Guzman, Willy Caballero, Franco Armani.

Defenders: Gabriel Mercado, Nicolás Otamendi, Federico Fazio, Nicolás Tagliafico, Marcos Rojo, Marcos Acuña, Ramiro Funes Mori, Cristian Ansaldi, Eduardo Salvio, Germán Pezzella.

Midfielders: Javier Mascherano, Ángel Di María, Ever Banega, Lucas Biglia, Manuel Lanzini, Gio Lo Celso, Ricardo Centurión, Guido Pizarro, Leandro Paredes, Maximiliano Meza, Enzo Pérez, Pablo Pérez, Rodrigo Battaglia.

Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Agüero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Paulo Dybala, Mauro Icardi Cristian Pavón, Lautaro Martínez y Diego Perotti.