Fabio Capello has been forced to recall a host of players he had previously ignored after injuries damaged the England coach’s preparations for the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.
With Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard and Fulham striker Bobby Zamora all sidelined due to injury, Capello has recalled Matthew Upson, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe for the Wembley clash with Bulgaria on Friday and the trip to Switzerland on September 7.
Upson had been discarded by Capello for England’s post-World Cup friendly against Hungary after a disappointing showing from the West Ham defender in South Africa.
Manchester United midfielder Carrick and Tottenham strikers Crouch and Defoe were also left out of that friendly, as was Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips.
Capello also recalled goalkeepers Ben Foster of Birmingham and Scott Carson of West Brom after ignoring both for the World Cup, although Manchester City’s Joe Hart is expected to start both qualifiers.
England Squad
Goalkeepers: Carson (West Brom), Foster (Birmingham), Hart (Man. City).
Defenders: Cahill (Bolton), A. Cole (Chelsea), Dawson (Tottenham), Gibbs (Arsenal), Jagielka (Everton), Johnson (Liverpool), Lescott (Man. City), Upson (West Ham).
Midfielders: Barry, Johnson, Milner, Wright-Phillips (all Man. City), Walcott (Arsenal), Young (Aston Villa), Carrick (Man. United), Gerrard (Liverpool).
Forwards: Bent (Sunderland), Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Rooney (Man. Utd).