Captain David Beckham has been named in England's 22-man squad for the friendly with Spain in Madrid next Wednesday despite not playing since cracking a rib in the 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Wales last month.
Beckham, who could return to action for Real Madrid against Albacete on Sunday, looks set to line up with club team mate Michael Owen at their home ground of the Bernabeu where England will wear an all white strip like Real.
"It is nice to have David Beckham back with us after his injury. I'm sure he and Michael Owen will be especially motivated for this game," coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said.
"I'm delighted that Michael has found his goal-scoring form at Real Madrid," he told thefa.com
Eriksson also included Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland in place of Norwich keeper Robert Green while Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge returns.
| |||||||||||
Spain coach Luis Aragones included English-based players Xabi Alonso of Liverpool and Jose Antonio Reyes of Arsenal in his squad.
"Spain are always strong opposition with some outstanding individual players," Eriksson said. "We have seen the quality of Reyes and Alonso here in the Premiership and they have a good balance of youth and experience."
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), David James (Manchester City), Chris Kirkland (Liverpool)
Defenders: Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Matthew Upson (Birmingham City), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), John Terry (Chelsea), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United) Gary Neville (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Phil Neville (Manchester United), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Nicky Butt (Newcastle United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City)
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alan Smith (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).
More from rediff