Southampton striker Peter Crouch and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Michael Carrick have been called up for England’s squad to tour the United States later this month.

Crouch has won six England under-21 caps, but this is the first time he has been selected for the senior squad.

“If you put the ball up there, he will win it,” coach Sven-Goran Eriksson said of the lanky striker.

“His touch is not bad at all and if you are trying everything in the last 15 minutes as you can’t break them, then maybe you could put on Peter Crouch.

“I didn’t know that much about him before this season, although I had seen him play for the under-21s.”

England play the United States in Chicago on May 28 and Colombia in New York on May 31.

Carrick is recalled three years after his last England cap, the 2001 friendly against the Netherlands.

“I think he deserves a chance. He has improved since he went to Tottenham, just like Jermain Defoe,” said Eriksson.

Eriksson was forced to select a squad shorn of the likes of Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney, Frank Lampard and John Terry, all of whom have been excused the trip.

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Robert Green (Norwich City), Scott Carson (Liverpool), David James (Manchester City)

Defenders: Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Matthew Upson (Birmingham City), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Phil Neville (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Chelsea).

Midfielders: Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Michael Carrick (Tottenham Hotspur) Joe Cole (Chelsea), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Strikers: Alan Smith (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Peter Crouch (Southampton), Andy Johnson (Crystal Palace), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur).