Post by Salem6 on Aug 29, 2005 8:06:38 GMT
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has dropped David James from his squad to face Wales and Northern Ireland in next month's World Cup qualifiers.
The Manchester City goalkeeper pays the price for his poor display in England's 4-1 friendly defeat by Denmark and is replaced by Chris Kirkland.
Chelsea defender Glen Johnson has also been left out by Eriksson.
But 23-year-old Liverpool full-back Stephen Warnock receives his first international call-up.
Eriksson said: "I have spoken to David James and explained to him that, on this occasion, I think it's best not to select him.
"He has always been extremely professional for me and I have assured him that the door is not closed, and that I will be monitoring his form at Manchester City very closely.
"Chris Kirkland is a brilliant prospect who has suffered badly with injuries, but he is now started playing regularly again, so I feel the time is right to have a good look at him."
Charlton striker Darren Bent keeps his place in the squad, and his Addicks team-mate Luke Young is also included.
Stephen Warnock
Young will be in contention to start at right-back as first-choice Gary Neville is out with a thigh strain.
Eriksson added: "Right-back is an issue. I know Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville don't play for their clubs but they can do the job. Luke Young is also doing very well at the moment.
"I am going to take Stephen Warnock. We don't have that many left-backs and Wayne Bridge has still to come back."
Crystal Palace frontman Andy Johnson is recalled but Alan Smith misses out.
Smith rejected a late call-up for the Denmark game, saying he wanted to improve his match-fitness by playing for Manchester United's reserves instead.
Eriksson had insisted that Smith's absence would not count against him, and says he is still under consideration.
"Alan Smith is always in my thoughts," he added. "I know Sir Alex Ferguson is trying to make him a holding midfielder and that won't happen overnight.
"I hope that for him and England he will be successful. You have to consider him a centre-forward but also a midfielder."
John Terry has become Eriksson's latest injury doubt with a knee injury sustained against Tottenham on Saturday.
His fitness, along with that of Steven Gerrard and Shaun Wright-Phillips, will be monitored when the squad meets up on Tuesday.
Michael Owen is in the squad although he is suspended for the game against Wales at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 3 September.
Owen will be eligible to play against Northern Ireland on 7 September.
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England: Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), Kirkland (Liverpool); Young (Charlton), Warnock (Liverpool), P Neville (Everton), A Cole (Arsenal), Carragher(Liverpool), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (Birmingham), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), J Cole (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Jenas (Newcastle), Carrick (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd); Owen* (Real Madrid), Rooney (Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), A Johnson (Crystal Palace), Bent (Charlton)
*suspended for Wales game
news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/4190482.stm