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Injury-hit Spain turn to Aduriz

Coach Vicente del Bosque called the Valencia striker into his squad on Monday after injuries to forwards Fernando Torres, Pedro and Jesus Navas. The world and European champions are also missing playmakers Xavi and Cesc Fabregas.

Arriving at Spain's training camp outside Madrid on Tuesday, Aduriz, a tall, powerful forward who has been compared to former Wales striker Mark Hughes, said he had been surprised to get the call.

"If they had told me two months ago I would never have believed it," the 29-year-old said on the Spanish football federation's website.

"I am thinking only about this match, in making a contribution and working as hard as I can," he added ahead of the Group I match in Del Bosque's home town of Salamanca.

Striker David Villa, joint top scorer at the World Cup with five goals, will be chomping at the bit after missing Barcelona's 1-1 draw with Real Mallorca on Sunday through suspension.

Aduriz's Valencia team-mate Pablo Hernandez, who has two appearances and one goal to his name and was also a late addition to the squad, is keen to take the chance thrown up by injuries to other players.

"It's an honour to be with the national team and these players, all the more so after winning the World Cup," Hernandez said on the RFEF website. "Now it's time for the hard work."

"Spain's titles speak for themselves but every general must believe in his troops and I believe we can go there, give a respectable performance and possibly achieve a result," Zutautas said on UEFA's website.