Belgium coach Marc Wilmots has dropped Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj for the forthcoming Euro 2016 qualifiers against Cyprus and Israel.
The 20-year old had featured in every squad, including for last year's World Cup, since deciding to play international football for Belgium last April.
"I have no doubts at all about his quality, it's just that there's little chance to see him, for him to show that quality," Wilmots said in a press conference on Friday.
Anderlecht's Anthony Vanden Borre, Barcelona's Thomas Vermaelen and Everton's Kevin Mirallas are also missing while Marseille's breakthrough striker Michy Batshuayi was awarded his first Belgium call-up.
The 21-year old, who joined the Ligue 1 title contenders this summer, has scored six goals, including four in the last three games, this season.
The Red Devils face Cyprus in a Group B qualifier in Brussels in March 28 before heading to Israel on March 31.
After just one win and two draws, Belgium, who reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup, are fourth with Cyprus a point ahead on third and Israel leading the pack with a four-point lead.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea/ENG), Simon Mignolet (Liverpool/ENG), Jean-François Gillet (Catania/ITA)
Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Southampton/ENG), Laurent Ciman (Impact Montreal/CAN), Laurens De Bock (Club Brugge), Jason Denayer (Celtic Glasgow/SCO), Vincent Kompany (Manchester City/ENG), Nicolas Lombaerts (Zenit Saint-Petersbourg/RUS), Thomas Meunier (Club Brugge), Jan Vertonghen (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG)
Midfielders: Nacer Chadli (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Kevin De Bruyne (Wolfsburg/GER), Steven Defour (Anderlecht), Moussa Dembele (Tottenham Hotspur/ENG), Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United/ENG), Radja Nainggolan (AS Roma/ITA), Axel Witsel (Zenit Saint-Petersbourg/RUS)
Forwards: Michy Batshuayi (Olympique Marseille/FRA), Christian Benteke (Aston Villa/ENG), Yannick Ferreira-Carrasco (AS Monaco/FRA), Eden Hazard (Chelsea/ENG), Romelu Lukaku (Everton/ENG), Dries Mertens (Naples/ITA), Divock Origi (Lille/FRA)
Source: AFP
