England Squad Preview: Fabio Capello's Side Start New Season

England manager Fabio Capello will name his squad this weekend for the upcoming friendly against Holland in Amsterdam next Wednesday. The Italian will most likely reveal his final selection on Sunday night after the completion of the Community Shield between Manchester United and Chelsea.

The match against Bert van Marwijk’s side is the latest in a series of high profile away friendlies for Capello’s side after facing France, Germany and Spain in the last 18 months.

The Three Lions will face one more friendly match against Slovenia at Wembley at the start of September, before they return to World Cup Qualifying action against Croatia four days later.

With the friendly taking place before the English Premier League season has even started, Capello is expected to stick largely by the names of his previous squads.

However, the Italian and his staff have been observing many of the pre-season friendlies to check on the form and fitness of his players and there are rumours of him being impressed by some surprise names, most notably the 17-year-old Jack Wilshere of Arsenal.

In the goalkeeping department first choice David James was ruled out of the end-of-season qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Andorra with a shoulder injury, but will now be fit to return.

Manchester United’s Ben Foster also missed the last squad with a thumb injury, but is now back fit and will battle to replace Paul Robinson in the squad.

Rob Green kept two clean sheets whilst filling in for James in the two qualifying wins and will retain his place in the squad, but Scott Carson will most likely make way.

In defence Rio Ferdinand is fit to return having also missed the last two matches with injury.

Bolton’s Gary Cahill replaced him in the squad back in June, but will find himself hard-pressed to retain his place with Capello likely to select from Ferdinand, Terry, Upson and Lescott in central defence.

Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge should again compete for the left-back berth; but Gary Neville, a surprise inclusion back in June, looks set to miss out this time, having missed most of Manchester United’s pre-season schedule with a groin strain.

Club teammate Wes Brown could come back into the squad to compete with Glen Johnson or Capello might look again at Manchester City’s Micah Richards, who made his debut in Amsterdam against Holland in 2006, but has yet to figure under the Italian.

Aston Villa’s Luke Young would be another possibility to cover the right-back position as Phil Jagielka, another who can cover that post, is not expected back in action until December.

Stewart Downing is another ruled out of action until December and Joe Cole is still working his way back from a cruciate ligament injury leaving Theo Walcott, David Beckham, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, Ashley Young, and James Milner to battle it out for the wide roles in the squad.

Milner was only included as a late replacement for the injured Carrick last time out, so is most likely to miss out.

Beckham might also find himself surplus to requirements having now returned to MLS with L.A. Galaxy as Capello has been reluctant to pick him whilst playing in America in the past.

Beckham himself has not been shy in maintaining his desire to move back to Europe at the end of the MLS season in order to give himself the best possible chance of selection for the World Cup.

Michael Carrick should return to the squad to join Lampard, Gerrard and Barry in competing for the central midfield spots.

However, much press attention has recently been given to the prospects of young Jack Wilshere receiving a shock call-up for the squad.

Capello was present as the youngster scored twice against Rangers in the Emirates Cup at the weekend and rumour has it that the Italian is giving serious thought to including him in his squad for this friendly.

Such a move would not be totally unprecedented, as last November Capello surprisingly selected Michael Mancienne for the squad travelling to take on Germany in Berlin. Still, the Chelsea defender was 20 at the time compared to Wilshere’s 17, so any call-up would still be unlikely and come as a huge surprise.

Up front Wayne Rooney and Emile Heskey are expected to remain first choice, while newly reunited club teammates Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe are likely to retain their places in the squad having both scored against Andorra last time out.

Carlton Cole was an unused substitute that night and his place in the squad may come under threat from either Gabriel Agbonlahor or Darren Bent, although the former is arguably more likely than the latter.

The case of Michael Owen is likely to drag on for a while longer.

Despite scoring four times in pre-season since his free transfer to Manchester United, Capello is likely to want to see England’s fourth-highest scorer in competitive action for an extended period of time before re-calling him to the squad.