Gomes returns to Portuguese fold

Portuguese forward Nuno Gomes celebrates after scoring against Canada in March 2005. Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled Gomes for next month's key World Cup qualifying matches against Liechtenstein and Latvia.

Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari recalled Benfica striker Nuno Gomes, who scored five goals during his last two Portuguese league matches, for next month's key World Cup qualifying matches against Liechtenstein and Latvia.

Gomes, an integral part of Portugal's run to a second-place finish in the Euro 2004 finals, has not played for the national team since a 4-1 win over Canada in a friendly in March.

After a slow start the season, the 29-year-old is currently the top scorer in the Portuguese premier league with five goals after five games.

Scolari recalled three other players to his 22-man squad - midfielder Hugo Viana and defender Miguel Monteiro of Valencia and midfielder Tiago of Lyon.

Portugal hosts Liechtenstein on October 8 in Aveiro and Latvia four days later in Oporto.

The team leads Group Three with 24 points and needs just one point to qualify for next year's finals in Germany.

"I want to draw with Liechtenstein because one point is enough. If we have the conditions to win, then bring on the three points but what we want is to qualify," said Scolari.

"I don't want to wait until the last minute to qualify, as has been the tradition in Portugal."

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ricardo Pereira (Sporting Lisbon/POR), Quim (Benfica/POR).

Defenders: Paulo Ferreira (Chelsea/ENG), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea/ENG), Jorge Andrade (Deportivo Coruna/ESP), Nuno Valente (Everton/ENG), Fernando Meira (Stuttgart/GER), Miguel Monteiro (Valencia/ESP), Marco Caneira (Valencia/ESP)

Midfielders: Costinha (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Maniche (Dynamo Moscow/RUS), Hugo Viana (Valencia/ESP), Tiago Mendes (Lyon/FRA), Armando Petit (Benfica/POR), Deco (Barcelona/ESP)

Strikers: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United/ENG), Luis Figo (Inter Milan/ITA), Luis Boa Morte (Fulham/ENG), Simao Sabrosa (Benfica/POR), Helder Postiga (Porto/POR), Pauleta (Paris Saint Germain/FRA), Nuno Gomes (Benfica/POR)