England Head Coach Sven Goran Eriksson has named the squad to face Uruguay in a World Cup warm-up match at Liverpool’s home ground, Anfield on Wednesday March 1. Sven has recalled David James to the squad, with Darren Bent getting a chance to seal a place in the England team.

Sven has called up Charlton Athletic’s on-form striker Darren Bent, who started the English Premiership this season with a hat-full of goals, but had a dry patch until recently, but has since come back into scoring ways, with a total of 17 goals so far this season.

The call-up will be a massive boost for the Addicks star striker, and a good performance against Uruguay will increase his claims for a place in England's World Cup squad.

The recall of Manchester City’s ‘keeper David James, after his truly disastrous performance in the friendly last year against Denmark, is a surprise for many, but Sven has always been a huge admirer of James, and the Manchester City keeper has huge international experience.

Spurs keeper Paul Robinson has been in fine form of late, and with Robinson’s class, and his current run of form, this will surely mean his place in the first team is undeniable.

Wes Brown has also returned to the England squad for the first England game of 2006 as Sven-Goran Eriksson launches his World Cup Final preparations.

The Manchester United defender has not played for his country since last summer’s tour to the USA, but returns to the England squad to face Uruguay in Wednesday’s friendly.

United captain Gary Neville is also back after missing the last five internationals through injury, with Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher also deservedly being recalled to the squad.

Manchester United’s Kieran Richardson also gets the nod from the England boss for the squad.

Everton’s Phil Neville and Charlton’s Paul Konchesky were omitted from Sven’s plans for the Uruguay match, as was England veteran defender Sol Campbell, who is still to regain form after injury.

England will be without Michael Owen after the Newcastle United striker injured his foot, so Wayne Rooney will have a new partner in the game against Uruguay at Anfield.

Liverpool’s Peter Crouch and Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe will both come into contention to face Uruguay, and Eriksson has said that he is determined to field a strong side, but Sven is still unsure about who to play up-front with Wayne Rooney.

“Who will play up front with Rooney I am not sure, but probably it will give a possibility for two of them,” said Eriksson last week.

“We will start the best possible team, of course,” he added.

England squad to face Uruguay (team to be chosen from):

Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City).

Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Luke Young (Charlton Athletic), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Bridge (Fulham), Wes Brown (Manchester United)

Midfielders: Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Michael Carrick (Tottenham Hotspur), Kieron Richardson (Man Utd.)

Strikers: Peter Crouch (Liverpool), Jermaine Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Darren Bent (Charlton Athletic).

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( categories: International Friendlies | Team News | England Football Team News )