sport

CHELSEA YOUNGSTER GETS ENGLAND CALL

Mancienne (left) has already played for the under-21s.

Twenty-year-old Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is a surprise name in Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad for Wednesday's friendly with Germany in Berlin.

Mancienne is yet to play a game for the Stamford Bridge club but his performances on loan for Wolves and in Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad have persuaded Capello to draft him into an injury-hit senior squad for the first time.

Fellow under-21 stars Joe Hart and Gabriel Agbonlahor are also included, as is John Terry even though the England skipper is due to have a scan on a foot injury he suffered during the Blues' 3-0 win over West Brom at The Hawthorns.

As Capello is without Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who missed Manchester United's win over Stoke with back and calf injuries respectively, and both Ashley and Joe Cole, who also have foot problems, the England coach will hope Terry is available.

If not, he will go to Berlin without his entire first-choice defence and strikeforce, given Wigan's Emile Heskey is also missing with a calf strain.

Yet even with so many men out Capello has opted not to recall Michael Owen, who scored for Newcastle in their draw with Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

Also excluded is David Beckham, who does not get a chance to equal Bobby Moore's 108 caps, a record for an outfield player.

Capello explained those omissions were down to lack of match practice.

"It is not enough to play one or two games," said Capello, referring to Owen's recent return from a groin injury. "You cannot find enough form to play an international match in that time."

He added: "Beckham is not in the squad because he has not played for three weeks."

That situation has already been addressed with Beckham due to join AC Milan on a loan deal in January. England play Spain the following month.

However, Capello stressed he had played no part in the short-term transfer.

"I am a friend of (AC Milan vice-president) Adriano Galliani and he told me about what they were going to do," he said.

"I like the player and I like the man. But they told me after they decided to sign him, not before."

Darren Bent is rewarded for his fine recent form with a recall, while Micah Richards also returns although he, Manchester City team-mates Joe Hart and Shaun Wright-Phillips plus Joleon Lescott and Stewart Downing must get through key Premier League games for their clubs ton Sunday first.

"We have followed Bent over the last year and he has scored a lot of goals recently," said Capello. "We need a player for that role because we don't have Heskey.

"He is young, fast and has good movement without the ball. He runs into space, which is very important.

"It is important that Tottenham have won a lot of games because it helps Bent's confidence. That makes me happy."

In total, Capello has picked five players eligible for under-21 duty, plus another couple who are only just making their mark in the Premier League.

However, he does not want to see confidence drain away by placing his trust in too many rookies.

"It is dangerous to put too many new players into a team that has trained a lot together," said Capello.

"It is best when you put one or maximum two in. I just want to know them better, which I will do during the camp.

"I want to study what they do in training, then I will decide."

Full squad: Carson, Hart, James, Bridge, Davies, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Mancienne, Richards, Upson, Barry, Carrick, Downing, Lampard, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, A Young, Agbonlahor, Bent, Crouch, Defoe, Walcott.