Thursday 8 November 2012

Jack Returns from the Wilshere


Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been recalled to the England squad for next week's friendly against Sweden.

Wilshere, 20, only recently made his first team return after being out injured for more than a year.

There is a first call up for Everton midfielder Leon Osman, 31, while Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling, 17, and Jonjo Shelvey, 20, are also included.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard is in line to become the sixth England player to earn his 100th international cap.

The squad features 10 changes to the one announced for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Poland.

Ashley Cole, also on 99 caps, is left out after missing Chelsea's Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.

Joleon Lescott, Adam Johnson, James Milner, Andy Carroll, Kieran Gibbs, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jermain Defoe are all also absent for the game in Stockholm.

Wilshere has not featured for his country since making his fifth appearance in June 2011 against Switzerland.

The 20-year-old, who has struggled with a serious knee injury, only made his Premier League return for Arsenal against QPR two weeks ago - his first start for the Gunners since May 2011.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had hoped Wilshere, who has made just three first team appearance since returning from injury, would be overlooked by Hodgson as the club try to ease him back into action.

But Wilshere would have been unavailable for this weekend's Premier League match against Fulham after he was sent off in last weekend's defeat to Manchester United.

Sterling has been impressive for Liverpool for this season and was a late call-up for the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine last month - however he failed to make it off the bench.

While Gerrard is targeting his 100th cap at the age of 32, Osman will hope to get his first aged 31 after a strong start to the campaign with Everton.

The squad also features Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who was among 11 people to be charged by Serbian police following last month's Euro 2013 Under-21 play-off over against Serbia.

Ashley Young, meanwhile, makes a return after a couple of weeks on the sidelines with bruised cartilage on his knee.

The squad are expected to meet up on Sunday and train in Manchester before travelling to Sweden for Wednesday's game.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Leon Osman (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).


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