England open door to Vassell and Ricketts

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From Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters in 1966 to Michael Owen four years ago, there has always been scope for a dark horse to make a late run in the spring handicap events that are England friendly matches, and become a World Cup thoroughbred. That is the greatest incentive for the four uncapped players called into Sven Goran Eriksson's squad for Wednesday's game against the Netherlands in Amsterdam.

If Darius Vassell and Michael Ricketts, the two strikers unexpectedly given a chance, believe in omens they might like to note that Hurst and Owen were also first called to the colours in the February friendly leading up to a World Cup campaign that made heroes of them. Peters, the scorer of the "other" goal in the 1966 final, had to wait even longer, though it would be unwise of anyone not mentioned in dispatches from Soho Square this weekend to build up their hopes.

Of those not going Dutch, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie Fowler and Andy Cole have been specifically reassured that their absence is merely to facilitate what Eriksson calls "our last chance to experiment". There was no such encouragement, for Liverpool's Danny Murphy, who seemed to have impressed most observers in his half-hour as a substitute against Sweden in November, or for Real Madrid's Steve McManaman, who may now believe that being out of sight in Spain really is being out of mind and now out of contention.

At least the policy with Chelsea's Graeme Le Saux is consistent: he has been consistently ignored ever since Eriksson took over. Wayne Bridge, of Southampton, is the latest left-back to step in front of him, and with Ashley Cole and Jamie Carragher among the 14 players unavailable this week, it would make sense to try him from the start against the Netherlands. The attacking options open to the Dutch would certainly be a test for Bridge and the other defensive debutant promoted from the Under-21 side, Ledley King, who could at some stage be reunited with his former Tottenham partner Sol Campbell.

For others, like John Terry, Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate and Alan Smith, disciplinary misdemeanours have come at the worst possible time. Eriksson's assistant, Tord Grip, made it clear yesterday that Newcastle's Kieron Dyer was one of the absentees they would most have liked to look at; time is running out for him as well.

Joe Cole is recalled, though Eriksson will have noted that he is now playing in the centre of midfield for West Ham, rather than in England's problem position on the left, where he was not a great success. That role at Upton Park is now being filled, with great élan, by Trevor Sinclair, who made his debut against Sweden and is the most natural candidate to play there on Wednesday. Another Hammer in good form, David James, returns as one of the goalkeepers in place of Leicester's Ian Walker, increasing the possibility that, 36 years on, there could again be three East Enders in the final shake-up for Alf Garnett to cheer.

The greatest attention, however, will be on the strikers, and not just the new ones; Sunderland's Kevin Phillips is still without a goal in his seven international appearances. Vassell has done well for the Under-21s and looked increasingly confident for Aston Villa recently, while Ricketts is the unknown quantity in the international arena, who may as well be tried in the Amsterdam ArenA. Less than a year ago, Bolton's manager, Sam Allardyce, did not trust him as a regular starter, frequently using him as a substitute who punished tired First Division defences – his role in the play-off final against Preston – though the 6ft 2in Brummie still finished the season with 22 goals. He has already added 15 at the higher level, three of them coming against Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool.

"We've always said there's a chance for a young, promising striker to go to the World Cup," Grip added. "If Heskey is not around, for instance, we need to know there's someone who could do a similar job."

A gap may have opened on the rails for both new men. But with only five places realistically available to forwards in the final 23 this summer, it is a narrow one and will soon be closed off.