Included in the squad are five Manchester United players and there is a recall for Birmingham City striker Emile Heskey.

Heskey had an excellent game on Sunday, scoring in Birmingham's 2-0 derby win over Aston Villa and he could win a first cap since Euro 2004.

Sven was also mindful of the fact that Andy Johnson has a slight niggle which could keep him out of the first couple of days training.

Missing from the squad is Newcastle United midfielder Nicky Butt.

Earlier this week Sven had a conversation with Newcastle manager Graeme Souness in which they discussed the fact that Butt has missed much of season through injury.

Both Sven and Souness felt that it would be better for him to work on building his fitness rather than being involved in these two games.

Also missing are Arsenal defender Sol Campbell, who has a long-standing injury, and Alan Smith, who has not been a regular starter for United recently.

England currently lie at the top of European Group 6 and they will be looking to try and extend their one-point lead over second-placed Poland with wins over Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

The first match is against near-neighbours Northern Ireland at Old Trafford on Saturday 26 March with Azerbaijan to follow at St. James' Park four days later. Both qualifiers are being shown live on BBC One as Sven's side look to continue their positive start to their World Cup campaign. 

The game in Manchester sees England take on Northern Ireland for the first time since a European Championship qualifier in Belfast in April 1987 when England came away with a 2-0 win.

The only previous encounter between the Three Lions and Azerbaijan came five months ago when a Michael Owen goal gave the English visitors a 1-0 win in Baku.

England Squad v. N Ireland & Azerbaijan

Player   Club
Paul Robinson Tottenham Hotspur
David James Manchester City
Robert Green Norwich City
Rio Ferdinand Manchester United
John Terry Chelsea
Ledley King Tottenham Hotspur
Jamie Carragher Liverpool
Ashley Cole Arsenal
Gary Neville Manchester United
Wes Brown Manchester United
Phil Neville Manchester United
David Beckham Real Madrid
Steven Gerrard Liverpool
Frank Lampard Chelsea
Stewart Downing Middlesbrough
Owen Hargreaves Bayern Munich
Joe Cole Chelsea
Kieron Dyer Newcastle United
Jermaine Jenas Newcastle United
Andy Johnson Crystal Palace
Michael Owen Real Madrid
Jermain Defoe Tottenham Hotspur
Wayne Rooney Manchester United
Emile Heskey Birmingham City