Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross was selected in England's squad on
Saturday for the friendly against Egypt shortly after his horrific
challenge on Aaron Ramsey left the Arsenal midfielder with a
suspected broken leg.
Coach Fabio Capello delayed announcing his squad by 40
minutes for Wednesday's match at Wembley Stadium to discuss with
assistant Franco Baldini the impact of calling up Shawcross
following the incident in the Premier League match.
Shawcross has never played for the England senior team, but
could feature alongside former captain John Terry in central
defense due to injuries to Rio Ferdinand and Gary Cahill.
Leighton Baines replaces Wayne Bridge after the Manchester
City defender opted to stand down from the squad due to John
Terry's alleged affair with his former partner.
Bridge would likely have started due to Ashley Cole's injury,
but Baines or Stephen Warnock will now feature at left back.
Warnock's only previous international was a six-minute
appearance as a substitute against Trinidad and Tobago in June
2008, while Baines is yet to appear for the England senior side but
has impressed for Everton this season.
A notable absentee is Chelsea winger Joe Cole, who is yet to
find top form since returning in September from an eight-month
injury layoff.
"There are some problems for him because he is not back like
the player I remember," Capello said. "We have to wait, maybe in
the last two months (before the World Cup) he will improve a lot."
Capello also has reservations about Theo Walcott, but the
Arsenal winger made the squad despite not having played for England
since June.
"He is not in a fantastic moment. But I think he is getting
better and better every time because he needs to play," Capello
said.
David Beckham, the on-loan AC Milan midfielder, can make his
116th England appearance after impressing Capello against former
club Manchester United in the Champions League.
"He played well, he changed the style during the game,"
Capello said. "He is really dangerous. He can play wide and can
cross. Every cross he does is really dangerous for defenders and
the 'keeper.
"(Coach) Leonardo put him in midfield because he needed
players with different qualities."
Capello has chosen Egypt for one of three friendlies to
prepare for the World Cup because the African champions share
qualities with Algeria, a group opponent in South Africa.
"I watched the African Nations Cup on TV - I think they are a
really good team," Capello said. "They are really dangerous when
they go forward. They will cause some problems that we will have to
defend.
"It is important to us to understand the value of teams like
Algeria."
Squad:
Goalkeepers: David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West
Ham), Joe Hart (Birmingham).
Defenders: Wes Brown (Manchester United), John Terry
(Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Joleon Lescott (Manchester
City), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke), Leighton Baines (Everton), Stephen
Warnock (Aston Villa).
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), David Beckham
(AC Milan), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard
(Liverpool), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Shaun Wright-Phillips
(Manchester City), James Milner (Aston Villa), Theo Walcott
(Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Aston Villa).
Strikers: Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham),
Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United),
Jermain Defoe (Tottenham).
