London: England manager Fabio Capello is not convinced about the fitness of Rio Ferdinand and has left out the Manchester United defender from the squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria and Wales.
Rio was on the Manchester United bench against Arsenal Sunday after recovering from a hamstring problem, but Capello chose to give the defender a glimpse into the future by handing new United star Phil Jones his first international call-up.
Jones, who starred in the 8-2 win against Arsenal, was also in the squad for the postponed friendly against Holland.
Jones’ United team-mates Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney are also included but Danny Welbeck, who opened the scoring in the 8-2 thrashing at Old Trafford, was left out after he suffered a hamstring injury in the match. Welbeck was replaced by Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe.
Spurs striker Peter Crouch’s England future looks bleak as he was left out but Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was recalled despite criticising Capello’s management style.
England are currently top of their qualifying group, ahead of Montenegro on goal difference, and travel to Bulgaria on September 2 before hosting Wales at Wembley four days later.
Capello’s major selection dilemma for the Bulgaria clash appears to be who will partner Rooney in attack.
Defoe started alongside Rooney against Bulgaria 12 months ago and responded with a hat-trick in a 4-0 win.
But Capello is more likely to start with Bent.
The squad: Hart (Man City), Green (West Ham), Stockdale (Fulham – on loan at Ipswich Town); A Cole (Chelsea), Cahill (Bolton), Terry (Chelsea), Baines (Everton). Jagielka (Everton), Smalling (Man Utd), Jones (Man Utd), Richards (Man City), Lescott (Man City); Downing (Liverpool), Barry (Man City), Johnson (Man City), Milner (Man City), Lampard (Chelsea), Cleverley (Man Utd), A Young (Man Utd), Parker (West Ham), Walcott (Arsenal); Bent, left (Aston Villa), Carroll (Liverpool), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Spurs). (IANS)
