Didier Drogba is recovering from a hernia operation

Didier Drogba has been left out of a 26-man Ivory Coast squad for Tuesday's international friendly against Italy in London.

The Chelsea striker is recuperating from a hernia operation but will be a substitute for Sunday's Community Sheild against Manchester Unite.

Drogba is one of four players missing from the Elephants squad that went to the World Cup.

The Elephants were knocked out in the first round in South Africa.

Apart from the captain, Galatasaray midfielder Kader Keita also misses out, along with Monaco's Jean-Jacques Gosso and Maccabi Netanya goalkeeper Aristide Zogbo.

The remaining 19 players who played in South Africa have all been named for the clash against the 2006 world champions, including Manchester City pair Yaya and Kolo Toure, Chelsea's Salomon Kalou and Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue.

The Elephants are looking for a new coach to replace Sven Goran Eriksson, whose contract ended after the World Cup.

Ivory Coast squad:

Goalkeepers: Boubacar Barry (Lokeren, Belgium), Daniel Yeboah (Asec Mimosas)

Defenders: Constant Djakpa (Hannover, Germany), Sol Bamba (Hibernian, Scotland), Arthur Boka (Stuttgart, Germany), Emmanuel Eboue (Arsenal, England), Siaka Tiene (Valenciennes, France), Kolo Toure (Manchester City, England), Guy Demel (Hamburg, Germany) , Steve Gohouri (Wigan, England), Benjamin Angoua (Valenciennes, France)

Midfielders: Romaric and Didier Zokora (both Sevilla, Spain), Emerse Fae (Nice, France), Kafoumba Coulibaly (Nice, France), Cheick Tiote (FC Twente, Netherlands), Yaya Toure (Manchester City, England), Gilles Yapi-Yapo (FC Basel, Switzerland)

Forwards: Bakari Kone and Aruna Dindane (both Lekhwiya, Qatar), Seydou Doumbia (CSKA Moscow, Russia), Salomon Kalou (Chelsea, England), Gervinho (Lille, France), Emmanuel Kone (CFR Cluj, Romania), Didier Konan Ya (Hannover, Germany), Yannick Sagbo (Monaco, France)

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