Aston Villa defender Gareth Barry was today called up to the senior England squad today ahead of the European Championships.

Barry, 19, was due to report for duty tonight along with the three other squad members who appeared in the FA Cup final - club team-mates Gareth Southgate and David James, as well as Chelsea's Dennis Wise.

The left-sided centre-back had been placed on standby along with midfielder Frank Lampard last week when coach Kevin Keegan announced his provisional 28-man squad for the tournament.

However, Barry had still been due to join the under-21 squad leaving for their own European Championships in Slovakia later this week until he received the late call-up from the senior party, which will provide the perfect tonic after Villa's defeat at Wembley.

The reasons behind Barry's inclusion were not immediately clear but Jason Wilcox was not involved in England's training session this morning. With the squad already having a lack of naturally left-sided players it may be Keegan is looking to the Villa man as cover for Wilcox.

There may be other reasons however with recent concerns over the fitness of the likes of Jamie Redknapp, Steven Gerrard, Gary Neville and Tony Adams.

Keegan was meanwhile also assessing the fitness of strikers Michael Owen and Robbie Fowler after the boost of their involvement in a friendly with Liverpool yesterday.

Owen has admitted to worries over his recurring hamstring problems, while Fowler has an even greater doubt over his match fitness after missing much of the season due to an ankle injury.

'I will sit down with Michael and ask him truthfully what he thinks about his fitness. I'll do the same with Robbie and if I feel either of them aren't right then I wouldn't hesitate in telling them to aim for the 2002 World Cup qualifying campaign,' Keegan has said.

However, he will have been heartened that both strikers were given a run-out in a testimonial game for Tony Cascarino and Steve Staunton at Lansdowne Road between an Irish XI and Liverpool.

Liverpool may have lost 4-2 but their goals were scored by England internationals Owen and Emile Heskey, while Fowler not only made the opening for Heskey but also played for 63 minutes.

Liverpool boss Gerard Houllier declared after the game: 'Robbie looks sharper with every game he plays. But you don't come back after eight months out of top football and start where you left off.

'It will take time. But it was encouraging that Robbie made our first goal for Emile Heskey while, with one eye on Euro 2000, it was good that Michael Owen scored as well.'