Everton striker is the headline inclusion in Sven's squad to face Australia...
Everton striker is the headline inclusion in Sven's squad to face Australia...
TheFA.com can bring you the first news of Sven-Goran Eriksson's squad to face Australia next week and it means a first ever call-up for Everton sensation Wayne Rooney.
Should the striker feature at any stage on Wednesday, he will become the youngest England player of all time.
We told you yesterday that Sven would be naming some 'fresh faces' and other notable inclusions in the party are Newcastle's Jermaine Jenas, Charlton pair Paul Konchesky and Scott Parker, plus Birmingham's new signing Matthew Upson.
Meanwhile, with Emile Heskey and Alan Smith unavailable through injury and illness respectively, Sven will also take his first look at Arsenal's in-form Francis Jeffers and Southampton's prolific James Beattie.
For Beattie, this is a well deserved call following a season full of goals and there is every chance that his physical presence and eye for goal could make him an ideal potential partner up front for Michael Owen.
However, there's no doubt that it's Rooney's inclusion that will capture the imagination.
Here's what Sven had to say about new boy Wayne:
"If I was Wayne Rooney, I should be delighted as it should be one of the biggest things in his career.
"I'm sure he'll respond like that. He's only 17 but Pele was 17 when he won the World Cup in 1958 in Sweden and he scored twice in the final.
"Maybe it was stupid of me to compare him to Pele though. That's not good for anyone. To be a Pele is extremely difficult."
"I saw him come on for 25 minutes in one game but, talking to his manager and a lot of people who know him better than I do, he has great quality, is physically very strong and makes things happen," he added.
"Everyone that I've talked to says he's a special talent, so why not look at him in a friendly game if I have chosen to pick a young squad?"
Here's the party in full:
England Senior Squad to face Australia at West Ham, Wednesday February 12
Sol CAMPBELL - ARSENAL
Ashley COLE - ARSENAL
Francis JEFFERS - ARSENAL
Darius VASSELL - ASTON VILLA
Matthew UPSON - BIRMINGHAM
Owen HARGREAVES - BAYERN MUNICH
Paul KONCHESKY - CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Scott PARKER - CHARLTON ATHLETIC
Frank LAMPARD - CHELSEA
Wayne ROONEY - EVERTON
Richard WRIGHT - EVERTON
Sean DAVIS - FULHAM
Danny MILLS - LEEDS UNITED
Paul ROBINSON - LEEDS UNITED
Danny MURPHY - LIVERPOOL
Michael OWEN - LIVERPOOL
David BECKHAM - MANCHESTER UNITED
Wes BROWN - MANCHESTER UNITED
Rio FERDINAND - MANCHESTER UNITED
Gary NEVILLE - MANCHESTER UNITED
Paul SCHOLES - MANCHESTER UNITED
Kieron DYER - NEWCASTLE UNITED
Jermaine JENAS - NEWCASTLE UNITED
James BEATTIE - SOUTHAMPTON
Ledley KING - TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Joe COLE - WEST HAM UNITED
David JAMES - WEST HAM UNITED
More to follow...