Capello's Squad for Holland Has No Room for Peter Crouch or David James

Fabio Capello has named his first squad of the new season this weekend for the upcoming friendly against Holland in Amsterdam and there were a few surprises with David James and Peter Crouch missing the cut.

Ben Foster is recalled to the squad after missing the June qualifiers with a thumb injury and he will most likely share goalkeeping duties with Rob Green, who kept two clean sheets in the absence of James and Foster at the end of last season.

David James has not been selected as it is believed that Capello does not consider him to be fully recovered from a knee injury, although club manager Paul Hart expects James to line up for Portsmouth’s first game of the season on Saturday.

James had started each of Capello’s first 13 games in charge but will now have missed the last three matches.

There are no surprises in the selection of defenders, although Capello has opted for only seven with an extra midfielder in his squad meaning that Glen Johnson is the only right-back in the squad.

Johnson would be replaced by an additional call-up if injured before Wednesday but otherwise Shaun Wright-Phillips would be most likely to fill in at right-back if the new Liverpool fullback was forced off during the actual game.

The Manchester City winger played the final 15 minutes there against Kazakhstan in June and filled in at right-back in training during June when Gary Neville was unable to take part in training.

David Beckham retains his place in the squad despite the end of his loan spell at AC Milan and will rack up the air miles for his journey from Los Angeles.

James Milner also keeps his place in the 23-man selection. The Aston Villa wide-man was called into the squad last June as a replacement for the injured Michael Carrick but is selected from the start this time. Milner holds the record for appearances for the England Under-21 side but is yet to win his first cap at senior level.

Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere was tipped for a call-up but has been named in the England Under-20 squad and Capello is keen for him to compete at this level in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup which starts next month.

Up front new Tottenham signing Peter Crouch surprisingly misses out on the squad altogether despite starting and scoring in England’s last game against Andorra. Emile Heskey is expected to resume his fruitful partnership with Wayne Rooney while Jermain Defoe and Carlton Cole will provide back-up.

Michael Owen is again overlooked but Capello has again insisted that the door is definitely not shut on the new Manchester United man, maintaining that should Owen consistently play well and score for this new side then he will be considered to add to his 89 caps and 40 goals for his country.

23-man England Squad to face Holland

Goalkeepers:  Ben Foster (Manchester United), Robert Green (West Ham United), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)

Defenders:  Wayne Bridge (Manchester City), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Everton), John Terry (Chelsea), Matt Upson (West Ham United)

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

Forwards:  Carlton Cole (West Ham United), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)