David Beckham has been recalled to the England squad for the final Euro 2008 qualifying match against Croatia.
But England skipper John Terry will miss the game - and the friendly against
Austria five days earlier - through injury.
National boss Steve McClaren had hoped the 26-year-old talismanic defender
would have recovered from the knee injury he sustained in training but has been
forced to admit defeat.
McClaren now faces a defensive crisis with his other first choice central
defender Rio Ferdinand suspended for the game at Wembley on Wednesday week.
There was better news for the England boss when Chelsea's Ashley Cole and
Manchester City's Micah Richards were declared fit to be selected after ankle
and knee injuries respectively.
But there was no place for Jonathan Woodgate of Middlesbrough as Everton's
Joleon Lescott kept his place.
Beckham, 32, has recovered from an ankle injury and could win his 98th
international cap in the friendly in Austria next Friday evening as McClaren
finalises his preparations for the clash with the Croatians.
The former Boro manager travelled to the United States last weekend to talk to
the LA Galaxy mid-fielder and has been able to include him in his squad for the
first time since the 2-1 friendly defeat by Germany at Wembley in August.
England squad for the friendly against Austria on Friday, November 16 and the
Euro 2008 qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday, November 21: Robinson
(Tottenham), James (Portsmouth), Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Aston Villa);
Richards (Man City), P Neville (Everton), Brown (Man Utd), Campbell
(Portsmouth), Lescott (Everton), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea), Shorey
(Reading); Beckham (LA Galaxy), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Bentley (Blackburn),
Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea),
Downing (Middlesbrough), Hargreaves (Man Utd), Young (Aston Villa); Owen
(Newcastle), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Smith (Newcastle), Defoe
(Tottenham).
