MAURO Formica has received a shock call-up to Argentina's senior squad – even though he is yet to feature for Blackburn Rovers after three months at the club.

Formica joined Rovers from Newell’s Old Boys for around £3m at the end of the January transfer window but has so far only been an unused substitute, with boss Steve Kean believing he still needs more time to acclimatise to the English game.

The 23-year-old, whose Ewood Park contract runs until 2014, scored for Rovers’ second string in their Premier Reserve League play-off final defeat to Chelsea on Monday.

He has now been handed a surprise call into the Argentina squad for two summer friendlies.

Formica has represented Argentina at under 17s level and is part of a youthful squad to face Nigeria in Abuja on June 1 before travelling to Poland four days later.