Bullard in England squad

12 April 2012

England coach Fabio Capello has sprung a major surprise by including Jimmy Bullard in his squad to face Andorra and Croatia for the World Cup qualifiers which get under way next weekend.

The Fulham midfielder has never previously been thought of as potential England material but with Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick all injured, Capello has turned to the 29-year-old to give the Three Lions a shake-up as they start on the road to South Africa.

There was no place in Capello's 23-man squad for Michael Owen, who the Italian watched make his first full appearance of the season at Arsenal on Saturday, or Peter Crouch, who was again omitted despite his goal for Portsmouth at Everton Saturday.

Micah Richards, who had originally been picked for the England Under-21s' European Championship qualifier with Portugal on Friday, was also ruled out through injury, leaving Glen Johnson as back-up for Wes Brown at right-back.

Once again, Emile Heskey takes his place in a four-man strike force that also includes Arsenal's Theo Walcott, plus Wayne Rooney and Jermain Defoe, who started the unconvincing friendly draw with the Czech Republic on August 20.

West Ham keeper Robert Green returns to the England squad, as does Everton's Joleon Lescott, who replaces Jonathan Woodgate.

Capello has also kept faith with David Beckham, despite the former England skipper receiving severe criticism for his performance against the Czechs.

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