England Squad for Kazakhstan and Andorra: Return of the Neviller

With the Premier League season done and dusted, Fabio Capello has named the 24 men he needs to beat Kazakhstan and Andorra. The one surprise is the return of Gary Neville. Rumours of his international demise have been greatly exaggerated, apparently.

Neville has been mostly injured this season, but did start for Man Utd vs Hull yesterday. Then again, so did Lee Martin, and he’s not in the England squad.

The return of the Neviller probably says more about the lack of other options at right back than anything else, and I fully expect to see Glen Johnson start (especially given the opposition). But GN has been a loyal England servant, so I welcome his return.

Here’s the complete 24::

Keepers: S Carson (West Brom), R Green (West Ham). P Robinson (Blackburn);

Defenders: W Bridge (Man City), A Cole (Chelsea), R Ferdinand (Man Utd), G Johnson (Portsmouth), J Lescott (Everton), G Neville (Man Utd), J Terry (Chelsea), M Upson (West Ham);

Midfielders: G Barry (Aston Villa), D Beckham (LA Galaxy), M Carrick (Man Utd), S Gerrard (Liverpool), F Lampard (Chelsea), T Walcott (Arsenal), S Wright-Phillips (Man City), A Young (Aston Villa);

Forwards: C Cole (West Ham), P Crouch (Portsmouth), J Defoe (Tottenham), E Heskey (Aston Villa), W Rooney (Man Utd)

My money’s still on Rob Green starting in goal. Defence picks itself assuming everyone is fit.

Plenty of options in midfield, all of them good. But I’d expect to see Walcott wide right, Lampard and Barry in the middle, Gerrard on the left. But I’d be just as happy to see Michael Carrick and Ashley Young involved too.

My only question is up front. Rooney, obviously, and most would expect Heskey to partner him. But the big man’s recent form at Villa hasn’t been all that impressive, and I could definitely handle seeing Carlton Cole up there again, especially at home to Andorra.

Games are as follows:

vs Kazakhstan (away), Saturday June 6th, 4pm BST
vs Andorra (home), Wednesday June 10th, 8:15pm BST