World Cup 2010 » WCQ 2010 - Europe

Darren Bent And Tom Huddlestone Make Fabio Capello's England Squad - Report

The new squad suggests that Capello is impressed by the Spurs boys...

Nov 9, 2009 1:00:17 AM

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Fabio Capello - England (PA)

Teams

England

England coach Fabio Capello has not held Darren Bent's recent penalty miss against him as he names the Sunderland striker in his squad to face Brazil in Qatar next Saturday, November 14.

Capello attended Saturday's game at White Hart Lane between Sunderland and Tottenham and clearly liked what he saw, selecting not only Bent but a clutch of Spurs players, including goalscorer Tom Huddlestone, fellow midfielder Jermaine Jenas and strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe.

Bent has been in fine form this season, notching eight goals so far for the Black Cats after his summer move from Tottenham.

Injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole have opened the door for the forward to see if he can reproduce that form on the international stage.

England are also missing Steven Gerrard, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Aaron Lennon and David James through injury, while David Beckham will not be available if his Los Angeles Galaxy side win their MLS Conference semi-final against Chivas USA on Sunday night.

Huddlestone's elevation from the Under-21 squad rewards a consistent season for high-flying Tottenham, including an unstoppable 20-yard strike in front of Capello on Saturday.

Another notable inclusion is Stephen Warnock, the Aston Villa left-back, who will compete with Wayne Bridge to fill Cole's place, although James Milner did briefly fill the position during England's recent win over Belarus.

As expected Michael Owen is not selected, despite Capello dubbing him "my tormentor" for the amount of media interest he provokes in his absence from the squad.

A more surprising exclusion is Gabriel Agbonlahor, who has featured in previous squads and enjoyed a productive start to the season with six league goals so far.

Joe Cole's return has come too late to force his way into the reckoning, and he must rely on a strong run in the Chelsea side to book his place on the flight to South Africa next summer.

The Brazil fixture is one of just two remaining games before England must name their squad for the 2010 World Cup.

The England squad in full: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham), Hart (Manchester City); Bridge (Manchester City), Brown (Manchester United), Cahill (Bolton), Johnson (Liverpool), Lescott (Manchester City), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), Warnock (Aston Villa); Barry (Manchester City), Beckham* (Los Angeles Galaxy), Carrick (Manchester United), Huddlestone, Jenas (both Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Aston Villa), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Young (Aston Villa); Bent (Sunderland), Crouch, Defoe (both Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United).

* If Los Angeles Galaxy win their MLS Conference semi-final against Chivas USA on Sunday night, David Beckham will not be available for selection.

Edward Pearce, Goal.com UK