United contingent back for England
Sunday, October 6, 2002
Article summary
Gary Neville is one of three Manchester United FC players returning for England's EURO 2004™ qualifiers against Slovakia and F.Y.R. Macedonia.
Article body
Sven-Göran Eriksson has named a familiar squad for England's opening EURO 2004™ qualifier against Slovakia and F.Y.R. Macedonia - including three returning Manchester United FC players.
Neville returns
Gary Neville leads that trio after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals, where England reached the quarter-finals, while captain David Beckham and his United club-mate Paul Scholes return after missing the friendly draw with Portugal last month.
Robinson preferred
Rio Ferdinand misses out as he prepares to undergo a knee operation, while his former Leeds United AFC colleague Paul Robinson continues to be preferred in goal to team-mate Nigel Martyn, having already taken his club place. Arsenal FC veteran David Seaman is expected to start as goalkeeper having been left out of the team to meet Portugal.
Woodgate retained
Jonathan Woodgate also remains in the squad after his recent recall, but fellow Leeds player Lee Bowyer is left out, as is Joe Cole - who joins the under-21 squad - and the injured Danny Murphy. The other notable absentee is veteran forward Teddy Sheringham, but Steven Gerrard returns after regaining fitness and Ugo Ehiogu and Frank Lampard are also both recalled.
Southampton date
England travel to meet Slovakia on 12 October, before hosting Macedonia at Southampton four days later. "These are big games as it is important to try and get a good start in qualification," Eriksson told the Football Assocation of England's official website. "Neither game will be easy, we know that, so it is good to have most players fit."
Chance for defenders
He added: "Losing Rio is obviously a blow and we all wish him a speedy recovery. However, we do have other very good defenders who are in form and it will be a chance for them to show what they can do. Both Ugo and Frank have made very good starts to the season. They are playing well and deserve to be included."
England squad
Seaman, James, Robinson, Mills, Ashley Cole, Gary Neville, Bridge, Southgate, Woodgate, Campbell, Ehiogu, Beckham, Butt, Dyer, Sinclair, Gerrard, Hargreaves, Lampard, Scholes, Owen, Heskey, Smith, Vassell.
