Portuguese giants FC Porto have submitted their initial squad for the Uefa Champions League without Ghana defender Daniel Opare, GHANAsoccernet.com can confirm.

The 23-year-old versatile full-back along with Jose Angel and José Otávio have all been axed from the squad for various reasons.

Opare has not found his rhythm due to injuries since arriving at the Estádio Do Dragão from Belgian giants Standard Liege and as a result has been excluded from the squad.

Porto manager Lopetegui was briefed by the club’s medical team on the fitness situation of the Ghana international, revealing he would need considerable amount of time to fully return to training from his nagging knee problem and taken him out of his squad to make space for fully fit players.

However, he could still be registered in the competition should Porto make it through the Group Stages of the competition.

The former Real Madrid Castilla player marked his debut in the Champions League in July 2011 after playing for Standard Liege in their third round qualifying 1-1 draw with Swiss side FC Zurich.

His injury situation forced Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah to withdraw him from his squad for the 2015 AFCON qualifying double-header against Uganda and Togo after initially naming him in his defence.