Georgie Welcome replaces Carlo Costly in understrength Honduras squad

Honduras would enter the Worlds Cup finals in South Africa down on firepower after a costly injury and lack of playing time by their strikers, coach Reinaldo Rueda said after he named their final 23-man squad on Monday.

Striker Carlo Costly had already been ruled out after he broke his foot playing for his Romanian club Vaslui last week, while David Suazo and Carlos Pavon, key strikers in qualifying, had not been playing regularly recently. England-based trio Wilson Palacios, Hendry Thomas and Maynor Figueroa are also part of the squad.

Suazo was coming back from injury and played as a substitute for Genoa at the weekend against AC Milan in Serie A, while Pavon's Real Espana side have been knocked out in the Honduran championship.

"We've all been shocked by Costly's situation," Rueda said. "He was the only (Honduras) international forward playing and scoring goals.

"We don't have the arsenal we believe we have," said Rueda, who opted for Georgie Welcome over league top scorer Jerry Bengtson in place of Costly.

Rueda added: ''There is no name to replace Costly because of his temper, his heart and all he gives to the national team.''

However, Costly is one of the reserves alongside Kevin Hernandez, Mariano Acevedo, Jerry Palacios, Johnny Leveron, Erick Norales and Melvin Valladares.

Midfielder Danilo Turcios, who injured his left knee during the second leg of the Honduran Clausura final on Saturday, was included after his injury was not as serious as first thought.

"In the case of Danilo Turcios we have a positive diagnosis from the medical team. He will be given therapy for two weeks and will be fit for the World Cup," Rueda said.

Instead of naming a 30-man preliminary group, Rueda decided to reveal the 23 players to compete in South Africa next month, while seven more will be available if required.

Honduras have been drawn in Group H with Chile, Spain and Switzerland for the tournament that runs from June 11-July 11.

Squad: Ricardo Canales (Motagua), Noel Valladares (Olimpia), Donis Escober (Olimpia); Victor Bernardez (Anderlecht), Maynor Figueroa (Wigan), Boniek Garcia (Olimpia), Sergio Mendoza (Motagua), Emilio Izaguirre (Motagua), Johnny Palacios (Olimpia), Mauricio Sabillon (Hangzhou Luchen), Osman Chavez (Platense); Edgar Alvarez (Bari), Julio Cesar de Leon (Torino), Roger Espinoza (Kansas City Wizards), Amado Guevara (Motagua), Ramon Nunez (Olimpia), Wilson Palacios (Tottenham), Hendry Thomas (Wigan), Danilo Turcios (Olimpia); David Suazo (Genoa), Georgie Welcome (Motagua), Carlos Pavon (Real Espana), Walter Martinez (Marathon).

Reserves: Kevin Hernandez (Real Espana), Carlo Costly (SC Valsui), Mariano Acevedo (Marathon), Jerry Palacios (Hangzhou Nabel Greentown), Johnny Leveron (Motagua), Erick Norales (Marathon), Melvin Valladares (Real Espana).