Capello Calls on Veteran Neville for World Cup Qualifiers

Fabio Capello has named a 24-man squad for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra.

The most surprising selection is that of Gary Neville, who will provide backup for Glenn Johnson in the right-back position. Neville has 85 caps for England but has been injury plagued for much of the last two years; his last outing for the Three Lions coming back in February 2007 in a friendly against Spain.

Paul Robinson and Scott Carson are also re-called to the squad in place of the injured goalkeeping pair David James and Ben Foster. However, West Ham's Rob Green is expected to don the gloves for both qualifiers.

Jermain Defoe is also back in the fold after recently returning from a three month absence.

Manchester City's Wayne Bridge returns to the squad in place of Everton's Leighton Baines after he missed the previous squad through injury.

Club teammate Shaun Wright-Phillips, however, retains his place in the squad having returned for the final game of the season against Bolton on Sunday following a six game absence.

Mark Hughes had previously stated that Wright-Phillips was likely to miss the Bolton game and possibly go for surgery in the summer, but having turned out for City at the weekend, Capello has deemed him available for international duty.

Aaron Lennon and Stewart Downing miss out on the end-of-season qualifiers through injury and are replaced in the squad by Ashley Young and Theo Walcott. The latter returns to the senior squad for the first time since dislocating his shoulder in training prior to England's friendly in Berlin last November.

Capello is apparently keen on Walcott taking part in the UEFA Under-21 Championships in the summer as well.

His inclusion in the senior squad for these games is sure to irk club manager Arsene Wenger.

Phil Jagielka misses out through injury and Ledley King is not called upon this time, having been selected in the initial squad for the previous qualifier in April.

Up front, Jermain Defoe comes into the squad, and the Spurs striker is preferred to Darren Bent and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

England Squad to face Kazakhstan and Andorra

Goalkeepers: Rob Green, (West Ham United) Paul Robinson, and (Blackburn Rovers) Scott Carson (West Bromich Albion)

Defenders: Glenn Johnson, (Portsmouth) Rio Ferdinand, (Manchester United) John Terry, (Chelsea) Ashley Cole, (Chelsea) Gary Neville, (Manchester United) Matt Upson, (West Ham United) Joleen Lescott, and (Everton) Wayne Bridge (Manchester City)

Midfielders: Frank Lampard, (Chelsea) Steven Gerrard, (Liverpool) Gareth Barry, (Aston Villa) Michael Carrick, (Manchester United) David Beckham, (LA Galaxy/AC Milan) Shaun Wright-Phillips, (Manchester City) Theo Walcott, and (Arsenal) Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Emile Heskey, (Aston Villa) Wayne Rooney, (Manchester United) Carlton Cole, (West Ham United) Peter Crouch, and (Portsmouth) Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspurs)