England coach Fabio Capello overlooked Andy Carroll's criminal troubles on Saturday to include the Newcastle striker as one of four first-timers in the squad for Wednesday's friendly against France.
The 21-year-old Carroll was fined by a court last month after pleading guilty to assaulting a man in a nightclub and he has also been charged with assaulting a former girlfriend.
But Capello has called up Carroll - as well as Cardiff striker Jay Bothroyd for the first time - due to fellow forwards Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Bobby Zamora and Jermain Defoe all being ruled out through injury.
Capello has already seen Carroll net seven goals in 13 Premier League matches this season for Newcastle, including last weekend's winner at Arsenal.
"It's a real honor to be selected for England," Carroll said on Newcastle's website. "It obviously shows I am progressing on the pitch and it is fantastic that Mr. Capello has given me this opportunity to be involved with the senior England team."
But the call-up completes a U-turn by Capello, who had warned his players last February that their places in the squad would be in jeopardy if they were not role models off the pitch. That announcement came after John Terry was stripped of the captaincy for an alleged affair with the mother of a teammate's child, leading to Wayne Bridge quitting England duty.
The 28-year-old Bothroyd, who has scored 15 goals this season, could become the first player from a second-tier club to play for England since David Nugent in 2007.
Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling will also get the chance to make their England debuts.
In defense, there is a surprise return for Manchester City right back Micah Richards, who made the last of his 11 appearances for England in November 2007 - before Capello took charge.
The France game gives Capello a chance to look at different options before European Championship qualifying resumes against Wales in March. England won its first Euro 2012 qualifiers before being held to 0-0 by Montenegro last month.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Robert Green (West Ham), Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Manchester City).
Defenders: Kieran Giggs (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Chris Smalling (Manchester United).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), James Milner (Manchester City), Jordan Henderson (Sunderland).
Strikers: Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Andy Carroll (Newcastle), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jay Bothroyd (Cardiff).
