It is the Arsenal defender's 66th cap for England, the last coming as captain against the USA in Chicago in May this year.

He will play in the centre of England's defence along with Chelsea's John Terry, who missed the two qualifiers against Wales and Northern Ireland.

With numerous injuries to full-backs, Luke Young keeps his place in the right back berth for the third consecutive match whilst Liverpool's Jamie Carragher slots in the the left-back position.

In midfield, Sven has stuck with his first-choice players - captain David Beckham starts on the right with Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard in the middle of the field. Another Chelsea man, Joe Cole, will operate on the left.

In attack Michael Owen will be partnered by Peter Crouch. The Liverpool striker's only previous match for England came against Colombia in May when, playing alongside hat-trick hero Owen, England won 3-2.

It is the first time since a friendly against Belgium in October 1999 that England have fielded a side with no Manchester United player in the starting eleven.

England would be guaranteed a place in next summer's World Cup Finals if they win at Old Trafford and Holland beat the Czech Republic in Prague.

For automatic qualification as group winners, Sven's side need to beat Austria today and follow that with another win over Poland on Wednesday.

England XI v. Austria, World Cup Qualifier, 08 October 2005

1. Paul Robinson - Tottenham Hotspur
2. Luke Young - Charlton Athletic
3. Jamie Carragher - Liverpool
4. Steven Gerrard - Liverpool
5. John Terry - Chelsea
6. Sol Campbell - Arsenal
7. David Beckham - Real Madrid (capt.)
8. Frank Lampard - Chelsea
9. Peter Crouch - Liverpool
10. Michael Owen - Newcastle United
11. Joe Cole - Chelsea

Substitutes

12 Ledley King - Tottenham Hotspur
13 Chris Kirkland - West Bromwich Albion (loan)
14 Rio Ferdinand - Manchester United
15 Shaun Wright-Phillips - Chelsea
16 Kieran Richardson - Manchester United
17 Darren Bent - Charlton Athletic
18 Jermain Defoe - Tottenham Hotspur