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Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez left off Mexico Gold Cup roster by Gerardo Martino

Mexico’s Carlos Vela celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the group F match between Mexico and South Korea at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Rostov Arena in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, Saturday, June 23, 2018. (Eduardo Verdugo / Associated Press)
Associated Press

MEXICO CITY – Carlos Vela, Javier Hernandez, Giovani dos Santos, Hector Herrera and Jesus Corona were left off Mexico’s preliminary roster for the CONCACAF Gold Cup by new coach Gerardo Martino.

Vela’s omission was the biggest surprise. He leads Major League Soccer with 12 goals for Los Angeles FC.

“We spoke on the phone last week and he told me that his family and his club are his priorities and that*s why he prefers to stay aside,” Martino said Wednesday. “The players have the right to come or not to come. In Carlos’ case, he expressed the idea of not coming, and that*s a life decision not to play for Mexico.”

Hernandez is expecting his first child this summer, and Martino told Chicharito he should remain with his wife. Herrera said he is tired from a long season with Porto and is trying to define his future, and dos Santos does not have a club following his departure from Major League Soccer’s LA Galaxy.

Hernandez, who plays for England’s West Ham, is Mexico*s career leader with 51 goals and played in the last three World Cups along with dos Santos, who helped Mexico win the 2016 Olympic gold medal.

The most experienced players on the roster are goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa and midfielder Andres Guardado.

Hirving Lozano is on the roster after hurting a knee while with PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, but it is not clear whether he will recover ahead of Mexico’s opener against Cuba on June 15 at Pasadena, California. El Tri also plays Canada four days later at Denver and Martinique on June 23 at Charlotte, North Carolina.

The roster:

Goalkeepers: Hugo Gonzalez (Necaxa), Raul Gudino (Chivas), Guillermo Ochoa (Standard Liege, Belgium), Jonathan Orozco (Santos),

Defenders: Edson Alvarez (America), Nestor Araujo (Celta de Vigo, Spain), Jesus Gallardo (Monterrey), Miguel Layun (Monterrey), Cesar Montes (Monterrey), Hector Moreno (Real Sociedad, Spain), Fernando Navarro (Leon), Diego Reyes (Leganes, Spain), Luis Rodriguez (Tigres), Carlos Salcedo (Tigres), Jorge Sanchez (America)

Midfielders: Uriel Antuna (LA Galaxy), Jonathan dos Santos (LA Galaxy, MLS), Andres Guardado (Betis, Spain), Erick Gutierrez (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Hirving Lozano (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Luis Montes (Leon), Orbelin Pineda (Cruz Azul), Carlos Rodriguez (Monterrey), Ivan Rodriguez (Leon)

Forwards: Roberto Alvarado (Cruz Azul), Marco Fabian (Philadelphia, MLS), Raul Jimenez (Wolverhampton, England), Rodolfo Pizarro (Monterrey), Alexis Vega (Chivas),