Houston Dynamo's Erick Torres still in mix for Mexico Gold Cup call-up

HOUSTON -- Despite not being named to Mexico's 23-man squad for the Gold Cup, Houston Dynamo forward Erick "Cubo" Torres is still in the mix to be considered for a recall in the latter stages of the tournament.

Teams are allowed to make up to six changes to their squad ahead of the knockout stages, and acting Mexico coach Luis Pompilio Paez said Torres could be one of those called in.

"El Cubo is still being considered, he is on the 40-man [preliminary] roster," Paez said in a news conference after overseeing Mexico's 1-0 friendly win over Ghana on Wednesday night.

Paez was in charge of the Gold Cup squad while Mexico head coach Juan Carlos Osorio manages the team in the Confederations Cup in Russia.

He added: "Who coach Osorio wanted was Oribe Peralta, but we could not get him [after he played in the Confederations Cup].

"We did not yet want to call Cubo because we have Alan Pulido, but there is still a chance, he can be there after the group stage. He is called just like all 40 players are called. We have the right to make six changes after the group stage and he is being considered."

After going 22 matches without a goal in his first two season in Houston, Torres has scored 11 goals in 16 appearances this season and is seeking his first appearance for Mexico since April 16, 2015, when he started in a 2-0 friendly defeat against the United States.