Kick It Out ambassador Darren named in provisional England World Cup squad
The striker has been rewarded for a season where he’s scored 25 goals. Capello has also made a surprise inclusion by picking Tottenham centre-back Ledley King even though he struggles with a degenerative knee problem, while Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has been persuaded to come out of international retirement.
Scott Parker, who has been in fine form for his club, West Ham Utd, this season, has also bagged a place.
There is no place for Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves despite predictions the injury-hit star would be a shock inclusion.
Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry does make the squad even though he is expected to be out of action for up to four weeks with an ankle injury.
Barry’s City team-mate Adam Johnson is one of two uncapped players in Capello’s squad, the other being Tottenham defender Michael Dawson.
Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole, who hasn’t featured for England since September 2008, makes the squad after suggestions his lack of playing time for the Premier League champions would force Capello to leave him out.
Neither Carragher nor King has played under Capello, although the Tottenham star was called into England’s squad for a double header against Slovakia and the Ukraine last year, only to be forced out later on fitness grounds.
However, with doubts over the fitness of first-choice defenders Rio Ferdinand and John Terry, and Wes Brown and Joleon Lescott ruled out through injury, Capello is keen to have a closer look at the pair.
England’s provisional 30-man World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham)
Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)
Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Man City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City)
Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)