Capello shuffles pack for start of Euro campaign

Fabio Capello has been forced to recall a host of players he had previously ignored after injuries damaged the England coach’s preparations for the start of the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign.

With Chelsea duo John Terry and Frank Lampard and Fulham striker Bobby Zamora all sidelined due to injury, Capello has recalled Matthew Upson, Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe for the Wembley clash with Bulgaria on September 3 and the trip to Switzerland on September 7.

Upson had been discarded by Capello for England’s post-World Cup friendly against Hungary after a disappointing showing from the West Ham defender in South Africa.

Manchester United midfielder Carrick and Tottenham strikers Crouch and Defoe were also left out of that friendly, as was Manchester City winger Wright-Phillips.

Capello also recalled goalkeepers Ben Foster of Birmingham and Scott Carson of West Brom after ignoring both for the World Cup, although Manchester City’s Joe Hart is expected to start both qualifiers.

Crouch is back after scoring a hat-trick for Spurs against Young Boys in the Champions League play-offs last week, but he suffered a rib injury against Wigan on Saturday that could yet affect his availability, so Capello has also restored Tottenham’s Defoe to the squad as extra cover.

Wright-Phillips is back in place of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, who returns to the Under-21 squad after making his senior debut against Hungary.

The absence of Terry and Rio Ferdinand, who has only just returned to training after the knee injury that ruled him out of the World Cup, means Capello must pick a relatively untried partnership at the centre of his defence.

Tottenham’s Michael Dawson is likely to start alongside either Upson or Phil Jagielka.

In midfield, Capello has brought in Carrick for Lampard, who is sidelined due to a hernia operation, but he may change the 4-3-3 formation he used against Hungary and pick a central duo of Gareth Barry and Steven Gerrard, leaving the Manchester United player on the sidelines.

Wayne Rooney, who scored his first goal since March in United’s win over West Ham on Saturday, is certain to start up front, but the identity of his partner will not be decided until Capello has had a chance to study his options in training this week.

England’s 24-man squad for the Euro 2012 qualifiers against Bulgaria on September 3 and Switzerland on September 7:

Goalkeepers: Scott Carson (West Brom), Ben Foster (Birmingham), Joe Hart (Man City)

Defenders: Gary Cahill (Bolton), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Matthew Upson (West Ham)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Man City), Michael Carrick (Man Utd), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Adam Johnson (Man City), James Milner (Man City), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Carlton Cole (West Ham), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)