The 29-year-old is currently sidelined with a sprained ankle, an injury that has ruled him out of this weekend’s Birmingham derby. However, his international team coach, Reinaldo Rueda, is gambling on Angel recovering in time for the ties in Maracaibo on 26 March and Buenos Aires four days later. The side are currently sixth in the ten-nation group led by Argentina from which the top four go through directly to the finals in Germany and the fifth plays off against the winners of the Oceania zone, or Australia as they like to be known.
Meanwhile, Olof Mellberg has been included in the Sweden squad for the qualifier against Bulgaria in Sofia on 26 March and reserve goalkeeper Wayne Henderson is in the Republic of Ireland party for the UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualifier in Israel a day before.