Ashton in the squad
Friday, 05 October, 2007
Steve McClaren has named a squad of 27 to face Estonia and Russia, with Dean Ashton among the forwards.
England v Estonia
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
3pm, Saturday 13 October 2007
Wembley Stadium
Live on BBC1
Russia v England
UEFA European Championship Qualifier
4pm (BST), Wednesday 17 October 2007
Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow
Live on Sky Sports
Steve McClaren has squad of 27 playes for the Euro 2008 double header with Estonia and Russia, with Dean Ashton returning to the fold following fine early season form for West Ham United.
Ashton received a call-up to McClaren's first England squad in August of last year, with Greece the opponents in a friendly at Old Trafford. The West Ham forward suffered an injury in training and endured a difficult season last term in overcoming a succession of problems.
Now Ashton is back playing, and scoring, having made seven appearances so far this season and scoring in three successive games against Middlesbrough, Newcastle and Portsmouth.
Wayne Rooney is also included amongst the forwards, and the Manchester United forward will be eager to be involved in his first England game since March when the Three Lions defeated Andorra 3-0 in Barcelona.
Rooney was suspended for the trip to Estonia and suffered a foot injury at the start of the season against Reading, but is back on form having grabbed the winner for United in their victory over Roma on Tuesday evening.
The forward line also sees Peter Crouch, Andrew Johnson, Alan Smith, Jermain Defoe and Michael Owen available to McClaren.
Frank Lampard returns to the midfield ranks having missed England's previous two matches through injury, but Manchester United pair of Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick both miss out through injury.
