Erik Lamela
Erik Lamela is back to his best form for Spurs this season Getty

Tata Martino has named Tottenham's Erik Lamela in his latest 26-man Argentina squad, filling the gap left by the recent injury of Lionel Messi. Manchester United pair Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo, along with Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, Martin Demichelis, Nicolas Otamendi and Pablo Zabaleta are all in the squad for the World Cup 2018 qualifier against Ecuador on 8 October, followed by a home clash with Paraguay five days later.

Lamela has been out of Martino's squad in recent times, but the injuries to Messi and Sevilla midfielder Ever Banega have seen him grab a new chance in the national team, especially after his impressive performance in Tottenham's 4-1 victory over Manchester City.

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The Argentine attacker has put summer transfer rumours behind him, scoring in the Europa League opener against Qarabag before putting on arguably his best performance in a Spurs shirt in the win over City, scoring one goal and providing another.

He replaces Messi, who is expected to be out of action for around two months after he damaged ligament in his left knee during Barcelona's La Liga encounter with Las Palmas.

Argentina squad for upcoming fixtures

Goalkeepers: Sergio Romero (Manchester United-ENG), Nahuel Guzmán (Tigres de Monterrey-MEX) y Agustín Marchesín (Santos Laguna-MEX).

Defenders:Pablo Zabaleta (Manchester City-ENG), Martín Demichelis (Manchester City-ENG), Facundo Roncaglia (Fiorentina-ITA), Ezequiel Garay (Zenit San Petersburgo-RUS), Nicolás Otamendi (Valencia-ESP), Marcos Rojo (Manchester United-ENG), Emmanuel Mas (San Lorenzo-ARG), Milton Casco (River Plate-ARG) y Funes Mori (Everton-ENG).

Midfielders:Javier Mascherano (Barcelona-ESP), Erik Lamela (Tottenham-ENG), Lucas Biglia (Lazio-ITA), Javier Pastore (París Saint Germain-FRA), Ángel di María (París Saint Germain-FRA), Roberto Pereyra (Juventus-ITA), Matías Kranevitter (River Plate-ARG), Nicolás Gaitán (Benfica-POR) y Enzo Pérez (Valencia-ESP).

Strikers: Sergio Agüero (Manchester City-ENG), Carlos Tevez (Boca Juniors), Ezequiel Lavezzi (París Saint Germain-FRA), Paulo Dybala (Juventus-ITA) y Ángel Correa (Atlético de Madrid-ESP).