Wilshere, Sterling, Shelvey & Osman in England squad

 

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been recalled to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Sweden.

Wilshere, 20, only recently made his first-team return after being out injured for more than a year.

Right-back Carl Jenkinson represented Finland at youth level and needs Fifa clearance before he can join the squad.

There is a first call-up for Everton midfielder Leon Osman, 31, while Liverpool duo Raheem Sterling, 17, and Jonjo Shelvey, 20, are also included.

Reds captain Steven Gerrard is in line to become the sixth England player to earn his 100th international cap.

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“You know what I think about Wilshere, that it is early for him”

Arsene Wenger Arsenal manager

Wilshere has not featured for his country since winning his fifth cap against Switzerland in June 2011.

He has struggled with a serious knee injury and only made his Premier League return for Arsenal against QPR two weeks ago - his first start for the Gunners since May 2011.

But Wilshere will be unavailable for Saturday's Premier League match against Fulham after he was sent off in last weekend's defeat to Manchester United.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger feels it is too early for his young star to be included in the squad but said he had reached an agreement with his England counterpart Roy Hodgson over the player's inclusion.

"I had Roy Hodgson on the phone, we found a good understanding and a good compromise," said Wenger.

"What helps is that he is not playing over the weekend because he is suspended, of course. He will have a little breather.

The Frenchman added: "I don't want to talk about [the number of minutes Wilshere could play], Roy is in a better position to talk about that because he is the coach of the team and he can better explain how he will use the players. But it's a friendly, of course.

"The ideal solution would be [that he wasn't involved]. It is as it is. He has played three games now, and of the three games only one [has been a] full game.

"He has been out for 17 months and it's good to have a little break after three games."

England players to earn 100 or more caps

  • Peter Shilton - 125
  • David Beckham - 115
  • Bobby Moore - 108
  • Bobby Charlton - 106
  • Billy Wright - 105

Meanwhile Hodgson is confident that Wilshire's team-mate, 20-year-old Jenkinson, who has featured regularly for Arsenal this season, will be part of his squad.

"The reason I didn't include Carl from the start is because we haven't, at this moment in time, got clearance from Fifa but we do believe that they are going to grant that clearance within a day or two," he said.

"If the clearance comes through, we will put him in the squad. He was with us for training just before we left for Poland and I made it clear to him then that if he did want to play for England, I would include him in this squad and I intend to keep that promise."

Hodgson's selection features 10 changes to the group announced for the World Cup qualifiers against Ukraine and Poland.

Ashley Cole, also on 99 caps, is left out after missing Chelsea's Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday because of a hamstring injury.

Joleon Lescott, Adam Johnson, James Milner, Andy Carroll, Kieran Gibbs, Michael Carrick, Frank Lampard, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jermain Defoe are all also absent for the game in Stockholm.

Winger Sterling has been impressive for Liverpool this season and was a late call-up for the World Cup qualifier with Ukraine last month, failing to make it off the bench.

While Gerrard is targeting his 100th cap at the age of 32, Osman will hope to get his first aged 31 after a strong start to the campaign with Everton.

The squad also features Tottenham defender Steven Caulker, who was among 11 people to be charged by Serbian police following last month's Euro 2013 Under-21 play-off against Serbia which ended in a mass brawl.

Ashley Young, meanwhile, makes a return after a fortnight on the sidelines with bruised cartilage in his knee.

The squad are expected to meet up on Sunday and train in Manchester before travelling to Sweden for Wednesday's game.

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham).

Midfielders: Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), Leon Osman (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United).

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United).

England's new boys

Name, age

England appearances

Club

Position

Appearances for current club

Goals

Leon Osman, 31

0

Everton

Midfielder

313

45

Raheem Sterling, 17

0

Liverpool

Winger

19

1

Steven Caulker, 20

0

Tottenham

Defender

12

0

Fraser Forster, 24

0

Celtic

Goalkeeper

107

0

Ryan Shawcross, 25

0

Stoke

Defender

209

18

John Ruddy, 26

1

Norwich

Goalkeeper

93

0

Jonjo Shelvey, 20

1

Liverpool

Midfielder

51

5

Ryan Bertrand, 23

2

Chelsea

Defender

28

2