Roeder's advice delays Defoe call-up

Sven Goran Eriksson has heeded the advice of the West Ham manager Glenn Roeder and chosen not to fast-track Jermain Defoe into the senior England squad.

Defoe had been widely tipped to be included for the friendly international with Portugal at Villa Park on Saturday especially with Darius Vassell ruled out with a hamstring problem. But Eriksson has decided not to select the 19-year-old, who will instead join the Under-21 squad to face Yugoslavia at the Reebok Stadium on Friday. That will please Roeder, who had hoped Eriksson would not turn to Defoe before he had established a regular first-team spot at Upton Park.

Sunderland's recent £3.5m signing Matthew Piper is among five players called up by David Platt for the first time. Piper burst on to the Premiership scene with considerable success for Leicester City in the second half of last season.

Also receiving their first recognition at this level are the defenders Peter Clarke (Everton), Joleon Lescott (Wolves), Stuart Parnaby (Middlesbrough), Matt Taylor and Gary O'Neil (both Portsmouth). Clarke is currently on loan to Blackpool. The goalkeepers Rhys Evans (Chelsea) and Russell Howarth (York) are also named in a squad for the first time, although they had previously been called up by Platt as injury replacements. Howarth was added to the European Under-21 Championship squad in May after Stephen Bywater was injured. Evans, like Clarke, is also obtaining first-team experience during a loan spell with Leyton Orient.