Striker Heskey returns to England squad for World Cup qualifiers
LONDON: Striker Emile Heskey returned to the England squad for their next two World Cup qualifiers on Sunday, hours after scoring the breakthrough goal in Birmingham City’s 2-0 derby win over Aston Villa.
Heskey, who had been passed over by England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson since last year, scored his eighth goal of the season at St Andrews following his move from Liverpool.
Middlesbrough’s left-sided midfielder Stewart Downing and Crystal Palace striker Andy Johnson, who both made their debuts in last month’s 0-0 friendly draw with Holland, keep their places in a 24-man squad.
David Beckham will captain the Group Six leaders, who take on Northern Ireland at Old Trafford next Saturday and Azerbaijan at Newcastle’s St James’ Park the following Wednesday.
The strike force will be led by Manchester United teenager Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen, still on the Real Madrid substitutes’ bench, with the promising Jermain Defoe hoping for another chance.
Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard will drive the central midfield, with Downing and Joe Cole candidates for a place on the left in the absence of the injured Wayne Bridge.
Exciting right-winger Shaun Wright-Phillips also misses out through injury, as does Arsenal’s central defender Sol Campbell, whose place alongside Rio Ferdinand will go to Chelsea’s John Terry.
Ashley Cole, the only Arsenal player in the squad, will take the left-back role, with Gary Neville on the right and Paul Robinson between the posts in a largely unchanged line-up.
Heskey has worked his way back into the squad after his England career looked to have definitively stalled at 43 caps – but just five goals.
The burly forward, whose strength complemented Owen’s pace, has not played for his country since a 2-1 defeat by holders France in their Euro 2004 opener in Portugal last June.
He was named in a squad to face Ukraine in a friendly last August but had to withdraw with a hamstring injury. He has not scored for England since a May 2003 friendly away to South Africa.
England lead their group on 10 points, followed by Poland (9), Austria (5), Northern Ireland (3), Wales (2) and Azerbaijan (2).
The England squad
Goalkeepers: David James (Man City), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Robert Green (Norwich).
Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Ledley King (Tottenham), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Gary Neville (Man Utd), Wes Brown (Man Utd), Phil Neville (Man Utd).
Midfielders: Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool) Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle), David Beckham (Real Madrid).
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace) Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Birmingham). – Reuters
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