Blackburn Rovers striker Benni McCarthy has been recalled to the Bafana Bafana squad for the friendly matches against Japan and Jamaica later this month.

McCarthy was on the outer when former coach Joel Santana was in charge of the team, but Bafana's leading all-time scorer appears to be back in favour now that Santana has left the post.

The squad that was announced on Thursday has no place for Spain-based Nasief Morris, but includes three youngsters from the World Under-20 championships — striker Kermit Erasmus, midfeidler Daylon Claasen, and goalkeeper Darren Keet.

Coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who was at the squad announcement on Thursday, will only comment on the selections on Friday.

The 24-man squad was selected by the two assistant national coaches, Pitso Mosimane and Jairo Leal, but Parreira was involved in the process.

"But," stressed Leal, "we discussed bringing back McCarthy with Parreira.

"We believe that it was time to bring him back. These are the last two friendly matches of 2009 and we want to have a look at him again. He is still the country's top goal scorer and we want to see if we can still count on him. The ball is in his court."

McCarthy is struggling to get game time at Rovers and is reportedly looking to get a move from the English Premiership club in the January transfer window.

And while there was no place for Morris, Mosimane emphasised that the squad could still change.

"This is not the final squad. We are bringing back the players one at a time. Morris's time will come.

"We need a player of McCarthy's experience. He is still a tremendous finisher," said Mosimane.

McCarthy returns after a year's absence and will find that he will have to fight for his place against two in-form strikers - Mamelodi Sundowns' Katlego Mphela who is on fire in the PSL with 11 goals from 13 matches and Dutch-based Bernard Parker.

But, as in the past, nobody knows whether or not McCarthy will honour his call up. He has been known to ignore such call ups.

Said South African Football Association (Safa) CEO Raymond Hack: "The call up letters to all the players for these two friendly matches have gone out but nobody can force a player to play. But we are confident that all the players will be here when the squad assembles on Sunday night."

The notable absentee from the squad was Everton's midfield star Steven Pienaar who is still struggling to recover from an injury he sustained when he was tackled by Bafana skipper and Portsmouth hard man Aaron Mokoena in a recent English Premiership clash.

Parreira, who will address the media on Friday morning to outline his World Cup plans for Bafana, was a 'guest' at Thursday's announcement according to Hack.

Parreira, who arrived in Johannesburg on Thursday morning and was welcomed by Safa president Kirsten Nematandani, said he was pleased to be back in South Africa.

"I feel I am at home in South Africa. It is a great honour to guide Bafana to the World Cup which is just around the corner."

Watch the squad being announced:

The Bafana Bafana squad:

Goalkeepers: Rowen Fernandez (Arminia Bielefeld, Germany), Moeneeb Josephs (Orlando Pirates), Darren Keet (BidVest Wits)

Defenders: Siboniso Gaxa (Mamelodi Sundowns), Bongani Khumalo, Morgan Gould (both SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Maccabi Haifa, Israel), Aaron Mokoena (Portsmouth, England), Anele Ngcongca (Genk FC), Siyabonga Sangweni (Golden Arrows), Lucas Thwala (Pirates)

Midfielders: Daylon Classen (Ajax Amsterdam, Holland), Kagisho Dikgacoi (Fulham, England), Daine Klate (SuperSport), Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Siphiwe Tshabalala (both Kaizer Chiefs), Teko Modise (Pirates), Macbeth Sibaya (Ruban Kazan, Russia), Elrio van Heerden (Blackburn R vers, England) Strikers: Kermit Erasmus (SBV Excelsior Rotterdam, Holland), Mabhuti Khenyeza, Katlego Mphela (both Sundowns), Benni McCarthy (Blackburn Rovers, England), Bernard Parker (FC Twente, Holland).

Will Benni make the difference? We want all your comments below!

Sapa

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