Parker and Rooney return for England
Rooney's back from his ban
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Friday, 29, Sep 2006 10:04
England coach Steve McClaren has called up Scott Parker and Wayne Rooney for the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers with Macedonia and Croatia.
Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher and Ledley King are also among the recalled faces with the injured pair of Owen Hargreaves and Aaron Lennon, plus Darren Bent, Luke Young and Michael Dawson making way.
The fine early season form of Newcastle captain Parker had made him an obvious candidate to replace the unfortunate Hargreaves and he could now be in line to add to his two caps, the last of which came more than two years ago.
Rooney returns after completing his three-match ban for his red card in England's World Cup defeat by Portugal this summer.
The prodigious striker has lacked form for Manchester United this season but he could be handed a starting role by McClaren who has also included Peter Crouch, Andrew Johnson and Jermain Defoe as his attacking options.
England struggled against Macedonia in Skopje earlier this month, needing a Peter Crouch goal to seal the tie, and McClaren will be looking for a more dominant performance against them at Old Trafford on October 7th.
England then travel to Croatia for their fourth group E qualifier four days later.
England squad:
Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd), Kirkland (Liverpool); G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Everton), Brown (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Carrick (Man Utd), Richardson (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker (Newcastle); Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Spurs).