Veteran Aduriz grateful for second Spain chance

Athletic Club Bilbao striker, Aritz Aduriz is delighted to have a second chance to play for Spain six years after his last appearance and at 35-years of age.

Aduriz's 17 league goals for Athletic Club Bilbao and a total of 31 in all competitions for the season, finally earned him a recall from Vicente del Bosque when Del Bosque named his squad for the friendly matches against Italy and Romania to be played on March 24 and 27.

In announcement published in the Spanish press on Tuesday, Aduriz expressed his satisfaction at the chance of making just his second international appearance.

"It is a slightly strange sensation to return to the national side with my age and after my career," he said.

"I feel very lucky and I don't have words to express my gratitude, now I want to help be able to help in any way I can," added the striker.

Del Bosque has admitted one reason Aduriz received the call was the public support for the striker.

"I feel I have a lot of support. I didn't expect people to speak about me so much and I am both surprised and grateful," he said.

Aduriz was included ahead of Chelsea striker Diego Costa in Del Bosque's last squad ahead of the European Championships this summer, but it is still far from certain whether he will travel to France this June.

"The boss (De Bosque) will be able to decide that, all I can do is my best... there is a long way to go yet," commented Aduriz, who explained there were "still two months left in the league and European club competitions."

"We will try to play well and give a good impression," he concluded. Enditem