NARAHA (Japan), May 25: Claudio Caniggia pulled up with a twinge in his knee during the Rangers winger’s first full practice with Argentina’s World Cup squad in Japan on Saturday.

But the team’s press officer Coco Ventura said it was “just a small twinge in the natural process of recovery (from his injury)”.

Caniggia, in his third World Cup at the age of 35, trained with the bulk of the squad in Saturday’s morning session for the first time since injuring his right knee during the Scottish Cup final early this month.

He pulled up during a short sprint with other forwards in coach Marcelo Bielsa’s squad at their J-Village headquarters.

Caniggia, recalled by Bielsa in February after six years in the international wilderness, may not see World Cup action in his third finals even if he recovers fully.

The fast winger with the flowing blond locks faces stiff competition for the position on the right of Argentina’s attack.

Ariel Ortega, a veteran of the previous two tournaments, is favourite for the spot but World Cup rookie Gustavo Lopez is also gunning for recognition.

—Reuters