Scott Parker earns England recall

Newcastle United midfielder Scott Parker was recalled by England coach Steve McClaren yesterday for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia. Parker, who joined Newcastle from Chelsea in 2005, has impressed this season and will...

Newcastle United midfielder Scott Parker was recalled by England coach Steve McClaren yesterday for next month's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Macedonia and Croatia.

Parker, who joined Newcastle from Chelsea in 2005, has impressed this season and will get the chance to add to his tally of two caps, the last of which came in March 2004.

Manchester United's Wayne Rooney returned to the squad for the first time since the World Cup finals following his suspension for the red card he received against Portugal in the quarter-finals.

Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves misses out with a broken leg while Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is injured. England host Macedonia on Oct. 7 and play Croatia in Zagreb four days later.

The squad

Goalkeepers: Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Watford), Kirkland (Wigan).

Defenders: G. Neville (Man. United), P. Neville (Everton), Brown (Man. United), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man. United), Carragher (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Carrick (Man. United), Richardson (Man. United), Downing (M'Boro), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker (Newcastle).

Forwards: Rooney (Man. United), Crouch (Liverpool), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Tottenham).

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