England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has callled up controversial Leeds pair Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer for Saturday’s friendly international against Portugal.

Woodgate and Bowyer, who have been missing from the international scene for almost two years due to their involvement in an assault trial, were included, along with Leeds team-mates Paul Robinson and Alan Smith.

There is no place for promising West Ham striker Jermain Defoe nor Blackburn midfielder David Dunn, both of whom will turn out for the under-21 side.

Among the notable absentees are goalkeepers David Seaman and Nigel Martyn along with Teddy Sheringham and Martin Keown. Whether this omission spells the end of their international careers remains to be seen.

Sol Campbell, Paul Scholes and Darius Vassell are all missing through injury.

Eriksson told the FA’s website: “Portugal were not very lucky in the World Cup but there is no doubt that they have a very good team.

“They have good defenders and they have especially fine midfielders. So it will be a very good friendly up in Birmingham.

“Of course, I remember the last game that we played at Villa Park because it was my very first as manager of England. We played Spain and we won 3-0.

“It’s good to start again where it all began and it’s also very important for us that we have a game to get back into the swing of things before we begin with the European Championship qualifiers.”

England squad:
Goalkeepers: James (West Ham), Robinson (Leeds).
Defenders: Mills (Leeds), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Bridge (Southampton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Leeds).
Midfielders: Beckham (Man Utd), Butt (Man Utd), Dyer (Newcastle), Sinclair (West Ham), Murphy (Liverpool), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Bowyer (Leeds), J Cole (West Ham).
Forwards: Owen (Liverpool), Heskey (Liverpool), Smith (Leeds).