La Albiceleste coach Edgardo Bauza has opted for unheard of striker Lucas Alario instead of Icardi to replace Gonzalo Higuain in their upcoming match against Bolivia.

Higuain picked up a yellow card in their 1-0 win over Chile and is suspended, whilst Lucas Pratto will miss the clash through injury forcing Bauza to add another forward to his ranks.

But instead of the in-form Icardi, Bauza has opted for River Plate forward Alario.

The 24-year-old has scored six goals in the Argentinian Primera Division this season, and currently has two caps for the national team.

This is poor Icardi’s latest snub at international level, having made his solitary appearance for Argentina back in October 2013 when he came on as an 82nd-minute substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.

He hasn’t played for them since.

Bauza had previously stated that he would turn to Icardi should anything happen to Higuain, but has seemingly gone back on his word.

Speaking to Argentinian publication La Nacion last week, Bauza said: “I’ve told him: ‘Be calm, if something happens to Higuain or Pratto, I’ll call you’.

“He’s happy, calm, no problems. He said to me: ‘I’m calm’. And I repeated that he could be called up at any time, and that no one in the national team has a problem with him.

“In my opinion he’s a good finisher, but not a player who you can involve in the collective play of the team.

“Of the three, Pratto is the best in this aspect, it’s just he doesn’t score like Higuain. Icardi is very dangerous in the final third, he has a lot of confidence right now.

“He’s not a player who helps a lot in holding the ball.

“Will I call him for the Brazil game on June 9? Maybe, but I don’t know.”

Argentina’s next match is away against Bolivia, with La Albiceleste currently sat third in the standings.