Davies gets England call from Capello

Bolton striker Kevin Davies was called up by England manager Fabio Capello on Monday for the Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro, just days after saying he’d lost hope of representing his country.

Italian boss Capello kept faith with Wayne Rooney despite fears the out-of-form Manchester United forward might be ruled out with an ankle injury.

He also recalled Joe Cole, Rio Ferdinand, Aaron Lennon and West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green, whose international prospects looked bleak after his mistake in conceding a goal in England’s 1-1 draw with the United States at this year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been named in both the senior and under-21 squads.

It is the inclusion of the 33-year-old uncapped Davies that is Capello’s most eye-catching selection ahead of the match at Wembley a week on Tuesday, where England will look to maintain their unbeaten start to Group G after wins over Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Davies, speaking ahead of Bolton’s 2-2 Premier League draw against Manchester United last weekend, reflected on his England dreams.

“I was in the expanded squad a couple of times but even when a few players pulled out and I thought I had a chance, someone else got called up,” he told ESPN.

Injuries to Bobby Zamora and Gabriel Agbonlahor appear to have paved the way for Davies’s call-up, with Capello ignoring the claims of Newcastle striker Andy Carroll.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (Birmingham City), Robert Green (West Ham United), Joe Hart (Manchester City)

Defenders: Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Manchester City), John Terry (Chelsea), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa)

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Joe Cole (Liverpool), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham Hotspur), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Ashley Young (Aston Villa)

Strikers: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur), Kevin Davies (Bolton Wanderers), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)