体坛英语新闻：Enner Valencia leads Ecuador squad for friendly

QUITO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Former Everton and West Ham forward Enner Valencia heads Ecuador's 24-man squad for next month's friendly against Peru, the South American country's football federation (FEF) said on Tuesday.

The squad includes a raft of newcomers, several of whom played in the Ecuador team that finished third at this year's U-20 World Cup in Poland.

Among them are Leonardo Campana (Barcelona), Gonzalo Plata (Sporting de Lisboa), Diego Palacios (Los Angeles), Alexander Alvarado (Aucas), Jackson Porozo (Santos) and Jose Cifuentes (America de Quito).

Ecuador will meet Peru in New Jersey on September 5 and a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent in Lima five days later, FEF officials said.

The matches will be the team's first since their group-stage elimination from the Copa America in Brazil in June.

Argentine Jorge Celico is currently in charge of El Tricolor on an interim basis following the sacking of Colombian Hernan Gomez last month.

Following is the Ecuador squad:

Goalkeepers: Pedro Ortiz (Delfin), Johan Padilla (El Nacional) and Brian Heras (Deportivo Cuenca).

Defenders: Andres Lopez (Catholic University), John Espinoza (Aucas), Dario Aimar (Barcelona), Xavier Arreaga (Seattle Sounders), Diego Palacios (Los Angeles), Christian Ramirez (Krasnodar), Jackson Porozo ( Santos) and Felix Torres (Santos Laguna).

Midfielders: Jose Cifuentes (America de Quito), Fernando Gaibor (Al-Wasl), Jhegson Mendez (Orlando City), Junior Sornoza (Corinthians), Alexander Alvarado (Aucas), Romario Ibarra (Pachuca ), Gonzalo Plata (Sporting de Lisboa), Jonathan Borja (El Nacional), Erick Castillo (Santos Laguna), Jhojan Julio (Quito League).

Forwards: Brian Angulo (Cruz Azul), Leonardo Campana (Barcelona) and Enner Valencia (Tigres).