Capello: Welbeck to start in Spain friendly

England coach Fabio Capello will experiment with different players and tactics in upcoming friendlies in preparation for Euro 2012 next summer.

The Three Lions will take on world and European champions Spain at Wembley next month, with the FA set to arrange further matches to give Capello time to examine different players and formations ahead of the tournament.

One area the Italian is particularly keen to work on is up front as he looks to develop a viable alternative to cope with the absence of Wayne Rooney, who will miss the start of the tournament through suspension following his dismissal against Montenegro last Friday.

Capello plans to use Manchester United forward Danny Welbeck at Wembley.

“I need to find the solution for the first game or two games that Rooney will not play,” Capello told reporters.

“And then if we find a solution he needs to work to return to the first XI. That is true, absolutely. I’ve got 23 players.”

“It will be really interesting because two players I did not select are playing really well. I saw Jermain Defoe play against Arsenal and he played really well, ran a lot, pressed a lot. Daniel Sturridge is the same.”

“Welbeck played 15 minutes against Montenegro and played really well. He will be tested when we play against Spain.”

“I wanted to see Bobby Zamora and Andy Carroll. These are players who have stayed with us at times. Zamora is an interesting player and we need to see him play against some important teams.”

Capello insists he has good options in all areas of the squad, particularly once midfield duo Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere return to full fitness.

“Don’t forget some important players are injured now or not on top form,” he added.

“Jack Wilshere is important. Steven Gerrard is another really important player.”

Meanwhile, Capello has warned Rio Ferdinand must prove he can play regularly for Manchester United before he can be considered for an England recall.

Ferdinand’s United career has been plagued by injury over the last two seasons, and he recently appears to have fallen behind club-mates Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, along with Bolton Wanderers’ Gary Cahill, in the international pecking order.

Capello opted not to include his former captain at all in his squad to face Montenegro in last Friday’s decisive Euro 2012 qualifier.

After the match Capello asserted that he will continue to select players based on fitness and form rather than reputations or past achievements.

“All these players who were injured, including Ferdinand and (Steven) Gerrard, I hope will be fit in a really short time,” the Italian told reporters.

“Rio needs to play games. He has not played enough and last week he was on the bench.”

“It’s my job, sorry, but I check all the players before I select them.”

“If a player is on top form I select them. I select the player, not the name.”