Everton’s 17-year-old striker Wayne Rooney has been called up for England’s squad to face Liechtenstein and Turkey after an impressive display against Arsenal at the weekend.
Rooney impressed the watching England coach Sven Goran Eriksson against Arsenal yesterday, scoring a wonderful solo goal in Everton’s 2-1 defeat to the Premier league leaders. The youngster made his international debut in a friendly match against Australia last month, but was expected to be included in the under-21 squad rather than the senior team for next week’s qualifiers. Rooney is joined by another precocious talent, 20-year-old Jermaine Jenas, while Francis Jeffers has also kept his place among the forwards.
Meanwhile, defender John Terry, who has enjoyed a solid campaign with Chelsea, earns a first call-up to the full squad.
Jonathan Woodgate and Gareth Southgate, both of whom missed the match against Austrlia, return to the squad, while West Ham duo Joe Cole and Trevor Sinclair have both been dropped.
Squad
Goalkeepers: James (West Ham), Robinson (Leeds), Wright (Everton)
Defenders: G Neville (Man Utd), Mills (Leeds), Bridge (Southampton), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Campbell (Arsenal), Southgate (Middlesbrough), Woodgate (Newcastle), Terry (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Beckham (Man Utd), Scholes (Man Utd), Butt (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Murphy (Liverpool), Dyer (Newcastle), Jenas (Newcastle), Forwards: Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Lampard (Chelsea)
