Bullard earns England call
31 Aug 2008 - 20:52:52
Fulham midfielder Jimmy Bullard has won a surprise call-up into Fabio Capello's England squad to face Andorra and Croatia in World Cup qualifiers which begin next weekend.
Bullard, 29, has been rewarded for his fine form towards the end of last season and the opening weeks of the new campaign and has won a first call-up in the absence through injury of Steven Gerrard, Owen Hargreaves and Michael Carrick.
England take on Andorra in Barcelona next Saturday before facing Croatia in Zagreb four days later in their opening two qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Elsewhere, there is no place in the 23-man squad for fit-again Newcastle United striker Michael Owen.
Instead, Wigan Athletic striker Emile Heskey has been named in an attacking quartet alongside Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Theo Walcott.
There are also recalls for West Ham keeper Robert Green and Everton defender Joleon Lescott.
Full squad: Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (LA Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).