Mexico sends reserves to Gold Cup

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -- Mexico dealt a damaging blow to next month's CONCACAF Gold Cup when it announced it would be sending a reserve squad to the competition.

None of the 18 players squad named on Tuesday night were in the squad for Mexico's final World Cup qualifier against Honduras in November.

Only three -- midfielders Victor Gutierrrez and Tomas Campos and striker Jair Garcia -- took any part in the qualifying campaign.

Coach Javier Aguirre had announced beforehand that he would use the tournament to try out younger players.

Mexico were expected to be the big attraction of the regional tournament, which also includes Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Martinique, Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica with South Korea and Ecuador featuring as guests.

The Gold Cup will be held in the United States, starting January 18.

Squad:

Goalkeepers - Adrian Martinez (Santos Laguna), Omar Ortiz (Atletico Celaya)

Defenders - Adrian Garcia (Toluca), Sidney Balderas (UNL), Gabriel de Anda (Pachuca), Ignacio Hierro (Atlante), Alfonso Sosa (Pachuca)

Midfielders - Victor Gutierrez (Cruz Azul), Tomas Campos (Cruz Azul), Erik Espinoza (Toluca), Antonio Sancho (UNL), Antonio Noriega (Morelia), Marco Garces (Pachuca)

Forwards - Joaquin Reyes (Santos Laguna), Adolfo Bautista (UAG), Jair Garcia (Guadalajara), Jesus Mendoza (America), Carlos Ochoa (UNL)

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