On Wednesday evening, the Mexican Football Federation released the 19-man roster that El Tri will utilize against the United States next week in a friendly at San Antonio.
Looking at the list, it is obvious that Mexico manager Miguel "Piojo" Herrera has chosen to give a last chance to numerous players who will audition for one of the 46 spots of this summer's Copa America and Gold Cup squads. Among the 19 players, only three are first-ever call-ups for El Tri: Carlos Salcedo (Chivas Guadalajara), Luis Alfonso Rodriguez (Chiapas), and Mario Osuna (Queretaro).
Let's take a quick at these three newest additions to Mexico's national team.
Carlos Salcedo
At just 21 years old, Salcedo is the youngest player on the 19-man Mexico list and also is one of the most exciting prospects for El Tri. The centre-back has played with Chivas for less than half a year but has transitioned seamlessly into the back line of the squad.
Salcedo plays with the confidence of a seasoned veteran and has been a key player in Chivas' excellent defense this Clausura. The strong and aggressive youngster has huge potential for El Tri and should easily be a part of the next line of defenders who will need to replace older veterans like Rafael Marquez (Hellas Verona) and Francisco Javier Rodriguez (Cruz Azul).
Luis Alfonso Rodriguez
The 24-year-old Chiapas left back from Monterrey has had a standout year with and is another one of the younger players on the Mexico roster.
Rodriguez has great pace with the ball and has proved to be excellent with his crosses going forward for his club. His speed and ball control make him a perfect option as a right wing-back in Herrera's usual 5-3-2 formation.
Considering his distribution abilities as well, Rodriguez could also perhaps sneak into a spot as one of Mexico's attacking midfielders on Wednesday.
Mario Osuna
It's hard to think of many people who had 26-year-old Osuna on their radar for El Tri. Perhaps his two goals and an assist during his last four games for Queretaro were enough to catch the attention of Herrera and the national team.
Osuna isn't the most gifted dribbler or attack-minded midfielder, but he can provide a stable presence defensively on the pitch. He has plenty to prove and will likely have to play second fiddle to the more experienced Toluca midfielder Antonio Rios on the national team.