LIMA, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Former Bayern Munich striker Paolo Guerrero has been recalled to Peru's squad for World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Ecuador, head coach Ricardo Gareca said on Friday.

Guerrero has not played for Peru since 2019, having missed the team's opening 2022 World Cup qualifiers last year because of a serious knee injury.

The 37-year-old, who is Peru's all-time leading scorer with 38 goals in 102 international appearances, returned to action for Brazilian club Internacional in March.

Peru will face Colombia in Lima on June 3 and Ecuador in Quito five days later. The Blanquirroja will then turn their focus to the Copa America, scheduled to be played in Argentina from June 13 to July 10.

As expected, Gareca's 29-man squad also include Celta Vigo midfielder Renato Tapia and Saint-Etienne full-back Miguel Trauco.

Peru are currently ninth in the 10-team South American zone standings with just one point from their first four qualifiers.

The top four teams will earn a direct berth in next year's World Cup in Qatar while the fifth-ranked side will advance to an intercontinental playoff.

"We treat these games as a chance to recover," Gareca told a news conference. "Setting aside all of the difficulties, what we want is to play," the Argentine added.

Following is the Peru squad:

Goalkeepers: Pedro Gallese (Orlando City), Carlos Caceda (Melgar) and Jose Carvallo (Universidad).

Defenders: Luis Advincula (Rayo Vallecano), Aldo Corzo (Universidad), Miguel Araujo (Emmen), Alexander Callens (New York City), Nilson Loyola and Jhilmar Lora (Sporting Cristal), Renzo Garces and Christian Ramos (Universidad Cesar Vallejo), Luis Abram (Velez), Anderson Santamaria (Atlas), Marcos Lopez, (San Jose Earthquakes) and Miguel Trauco (Saint-Etienne).

Midfielders: Pedro Aquino (Leon), Andre Carrillo (Al Hilal), Christian Cueva (Al-Fateh), Renato Tapia (Celta de Vigo), Yoshimar Yotun (Cruz Azul), Sergio Pena (Emmen), Edison Flores (DC United) , Christofer Gonzales and Martin Tavara (Sporting Cristal) and Luis Iberico (Melgar).

Forwards: Raul Ruidiaz (Seattle Sounders), Gianluca Lapadula (Benevento Calcio) and Alex Valera (Universidad) and Paolo Guerrero (Internacional). Enditem

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