Hulk must earn Brazil recall, says coach Dunga

Rio de Janeiro: The absence of forward Hulk from Brazil's national squad is proof that no player is an automatic choice, says Selecao coach Dunga.

Hulk, a regulator starter for Brazil for the past two years, was left out of Dunga's squad for friendlies against Argentina and Japan next month, reports Xinhua.

His omission follows the 28-year-old's withdrawal from Brazil's friendlies against Colombia and Ecuador earlier this month due to a thigh injury.

Just four days after the Selecao's 1-0 victory over Ecuador Sep 9, the forward raised eyebrows in Brazil by returning for his club Zenit St Petersburg.

"The club sent us an email telling us that he would take four to six weeks to recover," Dunga told a press conference in Rio de Janeiro Wednesday.

"He came back a lot sooner. We thought it was better to let the player fully recover at his club and, who knows, later down the track he might have another opportunity."

Dunga denied ruling out Hulk from his plans, but admitted the former Porto player would have to earn his place.

"We are not disappointed or frustrated," Brazil's 1994 World Cup-winning captain said. "With modern medicine the way it is, players can come back very quickly.

Brazil will play Argentina in Beijing Oc 11 before a clash with Japan in Singapore three days later.