Sven brings Carragher back in from the cold

Having hinted that there might be one surprise in the England squad named for Wednesday's international in the Algarve, Sven Goran Eriksson last night pulled Liverpool's Jamie Carragher out of the hat for the first time in almost two years. The big losers excluded from a party of 24 were Chelsea's Glen Johnson and Scott Parker, Matthew Upson, Danny Murphy, James Beattie and Ian Walker.

The versatile Carragher made his international debut as long ago as April, 1999, in Hungary, but has not between picked since a friendly with Paraguay two months before the 2002 World Cup. Although he has played at full-back and as a holding midfielder for England, Eriksson does not appear to be short in either position. Hence the surprise.

More predictable absentees are Gary Neville, just back from injury, Jonathan Woodgate, still recovering, and the suspended Rio Ferdinand, plus Liverpool's Steven Gerrard, whose wife is expecting their first baby at any time. That will allow Frank Lampard to claim a deserved place in the midfield diamond that Eriksson wants to use, as long as he comes safely through Chelsea's FA Cup tie at Arsenal.

But with seven other squad players involved in today's games, the passenger list for Tuesday afternoon's flight to the Algarve may yet have to be amended. Arsenal's Sol Campbell could be the first name crossed off it; he has a groin strain and could miss out this afternoon, in which case plans to partner him with John Terry in the centre of defence would have to be shelved. Eriksson says that Terry and the unlucky Woodgate, who has been in fine form for Newcastle, will be involved in "a nice race" for a starting place at Euro 2000. Gareth Southgate, also in prime form, hopes to be a runner as well and now appears to be ahead of Upson, who had a poor game against Denmark in England's last match.

Midfield is the most fiercely competitive area, Jermaine Jenas squeezing in ahead of Parker, Murphy and Celtic's Alan Thompson, who had been hoping for a chance on the left. He is running out of time, like Tottenham's uncapped Jermain Defoe and Beattie, who misses out. But Alan Smith, called up and then dropped from the squad to face Denmark, is included.

Portugal's squad illustrates the continuing decline of the so-called "golden generation", their reputation destined to be a little tarnished by having failed to win anything at senior level. A cull after failing again at the last World Cup ended the international careers of Jorge Costa, João Pinto and the goalkeeper Vitor Baia among others. Yet some of the familiar old names remain, including David Beckham's club-mate Luis Figo, now 31 and winning his 100th cap this week.

Hope is being invested in the younger generation of exciting attacking players typified by Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and the currently less successful Hugo Viana, of Newcastle. Injuries have opened up a place for Fulham's Luis Boa Morte, and whoever fills England's full-back positions on Wednesday should be reacquainted at some stage with him and the even more mercurial Ronaldo.

England Under-21 squad (v Holland, Hull, 17 February): Ambrose (Newcastle), Ashton (Crewe), Bent (Ipswich), Bentley (Arsenal), Carson (Leeds), Chaplow (Burnley), Chopra (Newcastle/Nottm Forest), Cole (Chelsea/ Charlton), Davies (Middlesbrough), Downing (Middlesbrough), Grant (Derby), Johnson (Chelsea), Hoyte (Arsenal), Hunt (Bolton), Kilgallon (Leeds), Lonergan (Preston), Reo-Coker (West Ham), Ridgewell (Aston Villa), Stead (Blackburn), Taylor (Newcastle), Welsh (Liverpool), Whittingham (Aston Villa).

England squad

David James (Manchester City)

Paul Robinson (Leeds United)

Chris Kirkland (Liverpool)

Danny Mills (Leeds/Middlesbrough)

Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)

Ashley Cole (Arsenal)

Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)

Phil Neville (Manchester United)

Sol Campbell (Arsenal)

John Terry (Chelsea)

Gareth Southgate (Middlesbrough)

David Beckham (Real Madrid)

Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich)

Nicky Butt (Manchester United)

Paul Scholes (Manchester United)

Joe Cole (Chelsea)

Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United)

Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United)

Michael Owen (Liverpool)

Emile Heskey (Liverpool)

Wayne Rooney (Everton)

Alan Smith (Leeds United)

Darius Vassell (Aston Villa)