England's Campbell (Photo: Reuters)
Sunderland striker Fraizer Campbell got his first England call-up on Thursday as caretaker coach Stuart Pearce began a rebuilding job after the shock resignation of Fabio Capello months before Euro 2012.
The relatively young squad for Wednesday’s friendly with Netherlands at Wembley also included uncapped Manchester United midfielder Tom Cleverley and Manchester City right back Micah Richards, often ignored by Capello.
However, there was no place for Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand or Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.
Steven Gerrard is back for the first time since Nov. 2010 and is widely expected to be named captain after John Terry, out with injury, had the armband taken away by the FA last month pending his trial on charges of racial abuse, prompting Capello’s departure earlier this month.
Terry aggravated a knee injury this week and is due to undergo exploratory surgery to determine how long he will be out of action.
Wayne Rooney was named by Pearce, also the England Under-21 boss, despite being banned for the first two games of June’s European championship and being out of action this week with a throat infection, while goalkeeper Robert Green has returned in place of David Stockdale.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp is the bookmakers’ favourite to replace Capello for the Euros in Poland and Ukraine, which start on June 8.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (Bursaspor), Joe Hart (Manchester City), Robert Green (West Ham United)
Defenders: Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), James Milner (Manchester City), Scott Parker (Tottenham Hotspur), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal)
Forwards: Darren Bent (Aston Villa), Fraizer Campbell (Sunderland), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United). (Reporting by Mark Meadows; Editing by Clare Fallon)
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