Fabio Capello to name young squad for France friendly
England manager Fabio Capello will announce a youthful squad for the friendly against France on Wednesday evening.
The likes of Newcastle United in-form striker Andy Carroll, Sunderland midfielder Jordan Henderson and, most surprisingly of all, Cardiff City forward Jay Bothroyd, are all expected to be named in the Italian's latest squad.
Because of injuries to several high-profile strikers including Jermain Defoe, Darren Bent and Bobby Zamora, plus Wayne Rooney's failure to regain match fitness, Capello is faced with a shortage of front men.
This, in turn, could force the England boss to reluctantly change his formation for the international friendly against his team's cross-channel opponents next week.
An untested 4-5-1 with the towering Carroll playing the role of lone-striker is currently looking like the manager's preferred option.
Capello has a glut of in-form wingers to choose from which could subsequently mean that Wolves' Matt Jarvis, who has impressed with a series of eye-catching performances over the past month, misses out.
The former Gillingham winger was named in England's provisional squad along with Bothroyd, but fierce competition could mean he waits a little longer for his first senior cap.
Elsewhere, Arsenal duo Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs are likely to be included after being omitted from the England Under-21 squad, while Blackburn defender Phil Jones should win his first England call-up.
Joe Hart will retain the No. 1 jersey for the match against Les Blues, with Birmingham's Ben Foster and World Cup villain Robert Green in reserve.
With France also set to field a young starting XI, Wednesday's friendly promises to be an occasion for the stars of tomorrow to shine.
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