Mexico’s Medina out of WC

Mexico midfielder Juan Carlos Medina will not take part in the World Cup, the country's federation announced on Tuesday.

Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesJuan Carlos Medina played a key role in Mexico's 2-2 draw with the United State in April.

Club America's 31-year-old holding midfielder has been ruled out with a right ankle injury that requires surgery.

Toluca's Miguel Ponce, a member of Mexico's gold-medal winning Olympic squad in 2012, will replace him in Brazil. Ponce, 25, usually features at left back or on the left wing.

Medina was set to be an integral part of Mexico's team at the World Cup, after featuring for coach Miguel Herrera in America's Clausura-winning side in 2013. He had been called into each one of Herrera's national team squads.

Medina came off the bench at halftime for Mexico in their April friendly against the United States. He was a key influence in rallying El Tri to a 2-2 draw from two goals down.

Medina's absence leaves El Tri short in the defensive midfield position, with Jose Juan Vazquez inexperienced at the international level and Carlos Salcido and Hector Herrera better recognized in other positions.

California-born Ponce is due to meet up with the rest of the squad in its Mexico City base on Tuesday night and admitted he was surprised by the news.

"I was going to Sacramento to visit family and I wasn't thinking that something like this could happen," Ponce told ESPN Deportes.

In the same interview, Ponce also expressed his sympathy for Medina and offered his support.

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The Toffees are set to lose Gareth Barry this season, with the England international heading back to the Etihad Stadium after a successful year on Merseyside, and Rodwell fits the bill as a potential replacement.

The England international made his league debut for Everton as a substitute in March 2008, and went on to make over a hundred appearances for the club before moving to Manchester for an initial fee of £12m in the summer of 2012.