England manager Roy Hodgson has selected Andy Carroll in his squad for the forthcoming friendlies against the Republic of Ireland and Brazil.
Carroll, who last featured for England in the World Cup qualifier against San Marino at Wembley last October, has been recalled after impressing on loan at West Ham from Liverpool.
Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy is the only new name in the 22-man party to face Ireland at Wembley on May 29 and Brazil in Rio on June 2.
Hodgson is yet to decide who will captain the side in the absence of the injured Steven Gerrard, with Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney the main contenders.
“Lampard and Rooney are the captains elect, but I’ll speak to Ashley Cole; he’s receiving his 100th cap,” he told a press conference.
“Most players who receive their 100th cap do receive the honour of captaining the country. But the last time I spoke to Ashley about it he was happy to stay in the shadows. Out of courtesy I’ll speak to him as I will with Frank and Wayne when we get together.”
England squad for summer friendlies:
Goalkeepers
Ben Foster, Joe Hart, Alex McCarthy
Defenders
Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, Kyle Walker
Midfielders
Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott
Forwards
Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck
Source: talkSport
