Monday, June 1, 2009

Neville returns to England fold

Gary Neville has been handed a surprise recall to the England squad for next month's World Cup double-header against Kazakhstan and Andorra. The 34-year-old Manchester United captain, who has started just 13 Premier League games this season, could now become the most-capped England full-back of all-time. Neville's international career had appeared over after 20 months in the wilderness, but he will now equal Kenny Sansom's full-back record of 86 caps should he feature in either game. Elsewhere, West Ham United's Robert Green and Paul Robinson of Blackburn Rovers are likely to fight it out for the number one jersey. Fellow goalkeepers David James and Ben Foster have been ruled out of the games with shoulder and thumb injuries respectively. Head coach Fabio Capello has also recalled fit-again Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, while there is also a place for Shaun Wright-Phillips despite fears that the Manchester City winger would miss out with a knee problem. England squad for World Cup qualifying matches against Kazakhstan and Andorra: Carson (West Brom), Green (West Ham), Robinson (Blackburn); Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Johnson (Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), Neville (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), Beckham, Carrick (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Walcott (Arsenal), Wright-Phillips (Man City), Young (Aston Villa); C Cole (West Ham), Crouch (Portsmouth), Defoe (Tottenham), Heskey (Aston Villa), Rooney (Man Utd).

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