Cap calls up Sturridge & Rodwell

Published Nov. 7, 2011 12:16 a.m. ET

foxsports

The pair have both been elevated from Stuart Pearce's Under-21 squad after excelling for Chelsea and Everton respectively this season. As expected, John Terry is also named, whilst Manchester United duo Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are omitted from a 25-man squad. There is also a return for Aston Villa's in-form Gabriel Agbonlahor, at the expense of Andy Carroll, who has struggled for consistency at Liverpool this season. Reds full-back Glen Johnson returns from injury, forcing Manchester City's Micah Richards out of Capello's squad. Joleon Lescott is back too, with Ashley Young the fourth member of the squad that faced Montenegro last month to miss out, this time through injury. As usual, there was no captain named, and it remains open to debate whether Terry will wear the armband against the world champions this weekend. However, Capello has insisted such a move would be for footballing reasons only, given he has already decided Terry is "innocent until proven guilty" of the racism allegations that have been levelled against him and are now the subject of both police and FA investigations. The reaction of a sell-out crowd on Saturday cannot be predicted with any certainty, and Capello has already suggested the likes of Gary Cahill, Phil Jagielka and Lescott may be presented with the chance to excel against a side that has proved itself the best in the world for the past four years. Ferdinand will be asked to work on his fitness, whilst Rooney was told in a private meeting with Capello on Thursday that he will be excused duty and may, with United's permission, attend an eventual UEFA hearing into the three-match ban he picked up for his dismissal in Podgorica. None of this will have any effect on Sturridge. The 22-year-old has come into his own at Stamford Bridge after a productive loan spell with Bolton last season. Sturridge has scored five goals for Chelsea this season and started the win at Blackburn. "He's an interesting player and a player who scores goal," said Capello. "I saw him play right wing, left wing and centre forward. He has improved a lot." Full England squad to face Spain and Sweden:Goalkeepers: Hart (Man City), Carson (Bursaspor), Stockdale (Ipswich). Defenders: G Johnson (Liverpool), Jones (Man Utd), Cahill (Bolton), Terry (Chelsea), Cole (Chelsea), Baines (Everton), Jagielka (Everton), Lescott (Man City), Walker (Tottenham). Midfielders: Lampard (Chelsea), Rodwell (Everton), Downing (Liverpool), Barry (Man City), A Johnson (Man City), Milner (Man City), Parker (Tottenham), Walcott (Arsenal). Strikers: Bent (Aston Villa), Sturridge (Chelsea), Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Zamora (Fulham), Welbeck (Man Utd).