The battle to be one of Spain's centre forwards at the World Cup finals in Brazil next year still has a long way to run, Juventus striker Fernando Llorente said on Thursday.
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The 28-year-old front man has been called up as a replacement for the injured Diego Costa for the world and European champions' friendlies in Equatorial Guinea and South Africa over the next few days.
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Atletico Madrid's Costa has muscled his way into the reckoning for one of the striking positions since turning his back on the country of his birth, Brazil, and, with his dual nationality, has chosen instead to play for Spain.
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He has made a spectacular start to the La Liga season, where he is second only to Cristiano Ronaldo in the scoring charts with 12 goals, and he has caught the eye of Spain boss Vicente del Bosque who has been impressed by his energy and movement.
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Costa, however, has been forced to pull out of his first call-up with a muscle injury, and Llorente, who helped Spain to win the 2010 World Cup, has another chance to impress.
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"There is a lot of competition in all the positions though it is true there are a lot of strikers in the frame," Llorente told a news conference at the team's training base in Las Rozas outside Madrid.
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Chelsea's Fernando Torres, Manchester City's Alvaro Negredo, Tottenham Hotspur's Roberto Soldado and Costa's Atletico teammate David Villa are all vying for Del Bosque's attention.
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"It's a long race. There are six or seven months until the World Cup. We are all going to give our very best, to try to prove what we are capable of," Llorente said.
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"Costa is a great player. He's been here a number of years and has decided to play for Spain. I think he can bring a lot to the team. I am sure the coach will be pleased he can count on him."
Let us just wait and see how that will pan out bcos that No9 spot is up for grabs now
Spain have lots of choices to pick from cos they are a well endowed team. But i still feel their coach should retire