Argentina legend Diego Maradona says that it is about time Carlos Tevez is brought back to the national team.

The national team has been rich with forwards especially in the last decade. The likes of Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuain, Sergio Aguero, and Angel di Maria offer excellent choices for the manager. It has led to the demise of Tevez much earlier than expected. The 32-year-old emerged as an alternative for the likes of Hernan Crespo at the start of the millennium. He made his debut in 2004 under the regime of Marcelo Bielsa. Aged just 20, it was expected that the striker would go on to greater things.

It has been true to some extent, as the striker has been able to make 70 appearances for the national team in all competitions. However, he has been affected by criticism that he does not score often. A return of just 13 goals in these games has not helped Tevez to defend his record. He has not been seen at the national team fold since their World Cup qualifier against Paraguay a year ago.

The appointment of the new coach, Edgardo Bauza, after the disappointing Copa America final loss was expected to yield a look in for Tevez, but it has not happened.

Maradona is the latest to call for the player to return, as Argentina are faced with poor form in the qualifiers. "I ask people not to give him a hard time, that they should just let him play. He has what it takes to do well for Boca [Juniors], the national team and whichever other side he plays for,” said Maradona. The only major hope for Tevez is that continued poor form by the national team in the World Cup 2018 qualifiers may force managerBauza into a rethink and potentially recall Tevez.