Vicente del Bosque, new national manager of European champions Spain, raised eyebrows on Friday afternoon by excluding Bojan Krkic from his squad for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Del Bosque justified leaving out the Barca starlet by saying that: "We are counting on him for the future, but the competition (for places) in the national team is strong."

Bojan - who turned 18 on Thursday and is about to be given an improved contract by Barca - has, surprisingly, still to make his full debut for Spain.

The tricky teenage idol has played for Spain at Under-18 and Under-20 level but has still to make his full national debut.

This fact has lead Radomir Antic, new national manager of Serbia, to express the hope that Bojan might, in the end, opt to play for the Balkan nation.

Bojan was born in the small Catalan town of Linyola in 1990, to a Serbian immigrant father and a Spanish mother, Maria Lluisa Perez.

His father, also named Bojan Krkic, had come to Spain in 1988 to play for second division side Mollerussa, having played previously for OFK Belgrade, Red Star - and the Yugoslav national side.

Bojan was placed into the Barcelona youth sections at the age of 10 and promptly broke all the scoring records, netting more than 800 goals in seven years.

He made his full Barca debut in 2007 and was the only bright spot last season, when Frank Rijkaard's team descended into chaos and confusion.

He was called up by Luis Aragones to make his full Spain debut in February against France, but suffered an attack of anxiety and had to drop out.

Aragones wanted to take him to Euro 2008, but the youngster cried off saying that he was exhausted after a hectic season.

Bojan was on the bench in last week's 3-0 friendly win away to Denmark and was expected to come on at the end - but Del Bosque surprisingly didn't bring him on.

Sports daily Marca, for one, is sure that Bojan will not opt for Serbia.

On Friday it's digital version quotes him as saying that "I am grateful" for Antic's interest, but "as I have always said, I am Spanish and I will play for Spain."

Del Bosque's squad for the games against Bosnia-Hercegovina (to be played in Murcia on 6 September) and Armenia (Albacete, 10 September) is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid), Jose Reina (Liverpool)

Defenders: Raul Albiol (Valencia), Fernando Navarro (Sevilla), Joan Capdevila (Villarreal), Juanito Gutierrez(Betis), Carles Puyol (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid), Andoni Iraola (Athletic Bilbao)

Midfielders: Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Santi Cazorla (Villarreal), Xavi Hernandez (FC Barcelona), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), Marcos Senna (Villarreal)

Forwards: Diego Capel (Sevilla), David Silva (Valencia), Daniel Guiza (Fenerbahce), Fernando Torres (Liverpool), David Villa (Valencia).