• Injured defender had been called up for two World Cup qualifiers • Hamstring problem means he has not played for two weeks

Marcos Rojo has withdrawn from the Argentina squad after manager Gerardo Martino accepted there was no need for him to return home to confirm his hamstring injury.

Rojo has been out since suffering the injury during the 3-2 victory at Southampton on 20 September. Argentina play Ecuador on Thursday and Paraguay next Tuesday. Despite Rojo’s hamstring injury ruling him out for at least three weeks he was named last month in Argentina’s squad by Martino but the 25-year-old asked the Argentina Football Association (AFA) not to have to travel to Argentina.

“Marcos Rojo will not be part of the squad for the qualifying debut against Ecuador and Paraguay, as he is in the final phase of recovery from a grade 1 injury in his right hamstring,” read a statement from the AFA on Monday.

“Louis Van Gaal, the Manchester United coach, was in touch yesterday afternoon with Argentina coach Gerardo Martino to explain to him the convenience of the defender finishing his recovery in the club.

“The situation was understood by the Albiceleste trainer, who will hope to have Rojo in top condition for the second qualifying double-header against Brazil and Colombia, in November.”