Injured Blackburn striker Roque Santa Cruz will miss Paraguay's forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Colombia and Peru.

The 27-year-old Santa Cruz is suffering from a muscle pull from Saturday's 2-0 home defeat to Premiership champions Manchester United, keeping him out of action for three weeks.

"It's a pity but I will not be able to play," Santa Cruz told Paraguay radio speaking from London. "The injury is causing me real problems."

The Paraguay squad, which meets Colombia in Bogota on Saturday and then hosts Peru in Asuncion four days later, started squad training on Monday.

Paraguay lead the 10-nation, South American 2010 World Cup qualifiers with 17 points ahead of a trio of nations on 13 -- Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

AFP

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