La Albirroja host Uruguay on Thursday, 27th January before travelling to play already-qualified Brazil on Tuesday, 1st February.

Paraguay have only won two of their 14 qualifiers so far but, with four games remaining, are still in with a reasonable chance of making it to Qatar, lying four points adrift of CONMEBOL’s final automatic place, with an additional play-off spot still up for grabs, too.

The Paraguayans last made it to a World Cup in 2010, when they progressed to the last eight of the competition before being edged out by eventual winners Spain.

Almirón – one of two English-based players to receive a call-up, along with Nottingham Forest’s Braian Ojeda – is now one of La Albirroja’s most experienced campaigners, with 41 caps to his name.