Spain coach Vicente del Bosque says he has left Diego Costa out of the squad for their upcoming internationals for fitness reasons only.
Spain play Belarus in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Huelva on Saturday, Nov. 15, and then face world champions Germany in a glamour friendly in Vigo the following Tuesday.
The squad includes the uncapped attackers Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Nolito (Celta Vigo) and Jose Callejon (Napoli), while there is also a first call for midfielder Nacho Camacho of Malaga.
Brazil-born Costa played in both Spain's last qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg games against the wishes of his club manager Jose Mourinho, sparking a public club vs. country debate when he missed four games on his return to London.
OFICIAL | Convocatoria de la @SeFutbol para medirse a Bielorrusia y Alemania | Spain's Call Up VS Belarus and Germany pic.twitter.com/Lh4YshFqYQ
- Selección Española (@SeFutbol) November 7, 2014
Costa has since played twice for his club, and is tipped to start in Chelsea's Premier League game at Liverpool on Saturday. However, Del Bosque told a news conference that he had been told the 26-year-old was not 100 percent fit at the moment and was therefore not called up.
"We are not calling him up for fitness reasons," the veteran coach said. "We have reached a decision with Chelsea's medical staff that we will take a break due to his groin issues. It has nothing to do with whether he later plays for his club. He always wants to come with us, but we have spoken and this is the best for his health. "
News of Costa's omission comes after Del Bosque had stressed that he would be "stubborn" over calling the striker up for international duty, even as Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho continued to blame Spain for his injury problems.
Mourinho has regularly claimed it was wrong for Costa to play in La Roja's Euro 2016 qualifiers against Slovakia and Luxembourg in early October.
Spain assistant coach Toni Grande responded by arguing that it would have been "crazy" not to call up a player who until then had been featuring and scoring in almost every game for Chelsea.
And Del Bosque told the DPA news agency in Madrid: "In some things we are very flexible and in others stubborn. And in this we are stubborn.
"I do not know if we are correct or mistaken. But in these moments if we had not brought Costa into the national team, for sure we would have been criticised for not having done so."
Del Bosque had gaps to fill in his squad due to Costa's absence, plus injuries to regular midfielders Andres Iniesta and David Silva. In-form Real Madrid playmaker Isco also returns to the senior squad having been with the under-21 squad during the last international break.
Missing from the squad for October's shock 2-1 defeat in Slovakia and routine 4-0 win in Luxembourg are injured Madrid right-back Dani Carvajal, Valencia attacker Rodrigo and Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Iturraspe.
Serie A top scorer Callejon and Celta's Nolito had been expected to get the call, although there is still no place for Manchester City's Jesus Navas, who has not been with the squad since being controversially dropped ahead of last summer's World Cup.
"We need skilful people, who open up the field, who can score goals," Del Bosque said. "We take advantage of people's current form. But they cannot all come. We have enormous affection for [Navas], but we were not able to find a space."
The biggest surprise was the inclusion of Malaga midfielder Camacho, who Del Bosque said was being recognised for his progress through the underage ranks and recent excellent club performances.
"[Camacho] has come through the youth teams, he was champion with the under-17s and with the under-21s and this reflects well on what he is doing with Malaga," the ex-Madrid coach said. "Iturraspe misses out, but also [Villarreal's] Bruno and [Atletico's] Mario, and of course they could return."
Barcelona's Gerard Pique is also included, despite being out of favour with his club boss Luis Enrique since the recent clasico against Real Madrid, and being a supporter of Catalan independence.
"You say he has not been playing... he played against Madrid," Del Bosque said. "He is fit, he is training, and we are counting on him. It does not bother me that you ask about him. But his behaviour has always been excellent. That is why he is here. He is part of the Spain team's project."
Full squad
Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), David de Gea (Manchester United), Kiko Casilla (Espanyol)
Defenders: Juanfran (Atletico), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Marc Bartra (Barcelona), Juan Bernat (Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Raul Albiol (Napoli), Gerard Pique (Barcelona)
Midfielders: Jose Callejon (Napoli), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Isco (Real Madrid), Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea), Santi Cazorla (Arsenal), Nacho Camacho (Malaga), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Raul Garcia (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Alvaro Morata (Juventus), Paco Alcacer (Valencia), Nolito (Celta), Pedro (Barcelona)
ESPN FC's Spain correspondent Dermot Corrigan contributed to this report.