MEXICO CITY -- Mexico captain Rafa Marquez and winger Jurgen Damm will not be making the trip from Mexico City to Trinidad for Tuesday's World Cup qualifier.
Marquez felt what the Mexican federation described as "acute back pain" in Friday's 2-0 victory over Costa Rica, and his club side Atlas decided along with national team staff that the 38-year-old should return to his club, rather than embarking on the long flight to Port of Spain.
Tigres' Damm picked up an unspecified muscular injury after coming on at half-time in the win and medical tests on Saturday showing he too is out, although the setback isn't considered serious.
No replacements will be called into the squad, meaning coach Juan Carlos Osorio has only 22 players available, after Andres Guardado arrived at camp carrying an injury.
The more positive news is that is appears Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez is set to be in the squad for Tuesday's game, with his participation considered in doubt after El Tri's joint record goal scorer was taken off with a sore thigh.
Mexico's players had an afternoon off on Saturday and will train in Mexico City on Sunday, before traveling to Port of Spain in the afternoon on a charter flight.
Mexico currently tops the Hexagonal table in CONCACAF qualifying for Russia 2018 on seven points, with Costa Rica in second on six.
