Fabio Capello has named Ledley King, Jamie Carragher and Scott Parker among his provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup.
Capello has opted to take a gamble on Tottenham centre-back King even though he struggles with a degenerative knee problem, while Liverpool defender Carragher has been persuaded to come out of international retirement.
There is also a surprise place for West Ham midfielder Parker, who has been in fine form for his club this season but had rarely been mentioned as a contender for Capello's squad. Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry does make the squad even though he is expected to be out of action for up to four weeks with an ankle injury.
Neither Carragher nor King has played under Capello. However, with doubts over the fitness of first-choice defenders Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, and Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott ruled out through injury, Capello is keen to have a closer look at the pair.
Goalkeepers: Hart (Man. City), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham).
Defenders: Baines (Everton), Carragher (Liverpool), A. Cole (Chelsea), Dawson (Tottenham), Ferdinand (Man. Utd), Johnson (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Barry (Man. City), Carrick (Man. Utd), J. Cole (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Huddlestone (Tottenham), Johnson (Man. City), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Milner (Aston Villa), Parker (West Ham), Walcott (Arsenal), Wright-Phillips (Man. City).
Forwards: Bent (Sunderland), Crouch (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Heskey (Aston Villa), Rooney (Man. Utd).