Friday, August 25, 2006

ENGLAND RECALL FOR JOHNSON

Andrew Johnson - back in the England fold

Steve McClaren has turned to Andrew Johnson to solve England's striker shortage.

Johnson is back in the international squad for the Euro 2008 qualifiers against Andorra and Macedonia.

The £8.6million Everton striker has not played for his country for more than a year but he has won a recall because Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen and Dean Ashton are all missing.

Michael Carrick returns to the squad after injury but McClaren is without injured defenders Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher.

Neville is out with a calf problem and Carragher damaged his ankle ligaments on the opening day of the Premiership season against Sheffield United.

Joe Cole hoped to be fit but, after a discussion with Jose Mourinho, McClaren has accepted the Chelsea midfielder will not be ready.

England take on minnows Andorra at Old Trafford a week on Saturday and then travel to Skopje to face Macedonia on Wednesday September 6.

McClaren, who named his squad today, is expected to start with Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe up front.

Charlton's Darren Bent keeps his place in the squad but Johnson has the chance to add to his two caps.

Johnson, 25, said: "When I joined Everton I said that it would be good for my international ambitions and that's been proved right.

"Every player wants to represent his country and I am no different in that. I just hope that now I can actually play a part in the two games.

"I am happy with my form at Everton and I have to thank the lads who have made it very easy for me to settle in."

Sven-Goran Eriksson named Johnson among his stand-by players for the World Cup finals but the striker has not actually played for his country in more than a year.

He won his first England cap as a substitute in a friendly against Holland in February last year and then started against the USA on the summer tour to America.

Eriksson ignored him as he languished in the Championship with Crystal Palace and then surprisingly called him onto the stand-by list.

Johnson scored on his Everton debut against Watford, last weekend, and impressed against Blackburn in midweek, in front of McClaren.

Everton boss David Moyes said: "I am not surprised that Andy has been called up by England.

"He has been in very good form for us, both in pre-season and in the opening two matches in the Premiership.

"He scored a good goal against Watford and looked a constant threat against Blackburn.

"He has a terrific work ethic about him and he deserves his chance at international level."

McClaren spoke to Moyes before making his decision and the England boss said: "Andy deserves his chance in this squad after starting the season well with his new club.

"He's a great lad and a real team player who always gives everything."

Rooney is suspended from both games because of his red card in the World Cup quarter-final and McClaren is short of options up front.

Owen will miss most of the season with a knee injury and Ashton broke his ankle on the eve of the friendly against Greece, earlier this month, when McClaren was set to hand him a first cap.

Carrick missed the Greece game with an ankle injury but returned to make his Manchester United debut at Charlton in midweek.

McClaren told thefa.com: "Alex Ferguson says he's been training well and should be ready for the two games.

"It's a shame his start at United has been disrupted but he's a top-quality player and a great passer of the ball."

Gary Neville's absence with a calf injury means McClaren must choose between Phil Neville or Luke Young at right-back, although Wes Brown can also play there.

McClaren said: "It's always disappointing to lose someone of Gary's quality and experience.

"He's an important part of the squad but we have good cover in Luke Young and Phil Neville who are very capable deputies."

Theo Walcott and Scott Carson, who both went to the World Cup, are in the under-21 squad.

Squad:Robinson (Tottenham), Kirkland (Liverpool), Foster (Man Utd), A Cole (Arsenal), Young (Charlton), P Neville (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Brown (Man Utd), Dawson (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Carrick (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Richardson (Man Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Lennon (Tottenham), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton), Johnson (Everton), Crouch (Liverpool)

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