Capello Selects Uncapped Trio in England Squad

Tuesday, 10th August 2010 at 10:26am

Much maligned England manager Fabio Capello has named three uncapped players in his first England squad since the humiliating defeat suffered at the hands of Germany at the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere have been called up as has Fulham's Bobby Zamora as part of the 23-man squad that will face Hungary on Wednesday; England's only friendly before the Euro 2012 qualifiers begin next month.

The move comes as Capello looks to reinvigorate the national team after a series of disappointing performances in South Africa and the three uncapped players are part of 13 changes initially made to the squad that departed for the finals on June 1.

Theo Walcott, who was surprisingly axed from the squad returns, as does Adam Johnson the Manchester City winger.

Darren Bent, Carlton Cole, Ben Foster, Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Ashley Young have also all been recalled.

Wes Brown and 'keeper Paul Robinson were selected by Capello but have chosen to retire from international football; Brown to 'give younger players a chance' and Robinson because it is believed that he is unhappy at being considered third choice goalkeeper.

David James, Robert Green, Ledley King, Matthew Upson, Stephen Warnock, Aaron Lennon, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Joe Cole, Peter Crouch, and Jermaine Defoe have all been dropped; Jamie Carragher and Emile Heskey have retired from international football and captain Rio Ferdinand is injured

Gibbs is viewed as the natural successor to former Arsenal left back Ashley Cole and might have gone to the World Cup had injury not curtailed his season in November.

Wilshere is considered one of, if not the most outstanding young talent in the English game and is widely expected to develop into a top class player under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal. Wilshere has yet to make a start in the Premier League for the Gunners but spent the second half of last season on loan at Bolton Wanderers where he is said to have impressed Capello.

The England boss is thought to have wanted to include Zamora in his initial squad of 30 for the World Cup after the 29-year-old impressed in Fulham's run to the final of the Europa League but an injury at the end of the season ruled him out.

England Squad vs. Hungary:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), John Terry (Chelsea)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Aston Villa), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Bobby Zamora (Fulham)

Have Your Say About This Post