Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Scott Parker excluded as Roy Hodgson announces England squad for Brazil friendly

Ashley Cole to make his 100th appearance next week

Simon Stone
Thursday 31 January 2013 15:15 GMT
Comments
Scott Parker has not played since Euro 2012
Scott Parker has not played since Euro 2012 (GETTY IMAGES)

Ashley Cole is in line to become the seventh player to win 100 England caps after being named in Roy Hodgson's squad for next week's friendly with Brazil at Wembley.

Cole was part of a strong 24-man squad, with youngsters Raheem Sterling, Jonjo Shelvey and Wilfried Zaha all excluded as expected.

The most notable exclusion was Tottenham's Scott Parker, now fit again after returning from Euro 2012 with an Achilles injury.

Frank Lampard has been picked, along with Jack Wilshere, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Leon Osman and skipper Steven Gerrard, who reached his century of caps in Sweden in November.

Hodgson has taken the unusual step of naming only two goalkeepers - Joe Hart and sought after Birmingham youngster Jack Butland - whilst Chris Smalling is called up for the first time during Hodgson's tenure after recovering from injury.

Jermain Defoe has also been included despite his present pelvic problem, joining Manchester United duo Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, plus Liverpool new-boy Daniel Sturridge, in attack.

England squad for the friendly against Brazil on Wednesday, February 6:

Butland (Birmingham) Hart (Manchester City); Baines (Everton), Cahill (Chelsea), Cole (Chelsea), Jagielka (Everton), G Johnson (Liverpool), Lescott (Manchester City), Smalling (Manchester United), Walker (Tottenham); Carrick (Manchester United), Cleverley (Manchester United), Gerrard (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon (Tottenham), Milner (Manchester City), Osman (Everton), Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Walcott (Arsenal), Wilshere (Arsenal); Defoe (Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United), Sturridge (Liverpool), Welbeck (Manchester United).

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in