Upson gets his chance as Fabio era kicks off

The 28-year-old looks to have won the race to partner Rio Ferdinand at centre-half in Fabio Capello's opening match as manager against Switzerland at Wembley.

Upson has not missed a game for West Ham this season after having special inserts - made from Yellow Pages - put in his football boots to stop his previous injury problems.

He has already won seven caps for his country, but his last game for the national side came in November 2004 when England lost 1-0 to Spain and he said that he would love another chance to represent his country.

"Even though I've been involved with England, I've never been to a major championship. I've got a huge hunger to do that," he said recently.

"Playing for England is a massive target for me and is the one personal achievement I would love to achieve again. It has been three years since my last cap and, for me, it is all about changing people's opinions about me."

Capello will not tell the players what tonight's line-up will be until 5pm - three hours before kickoff and there is one more training session this morning in which the coach could still change his mind, but it appears that Upson has done enough to get the nod.

Spurs' new signing Jonathan Woodgate has been overlooked because he has not played enough football this season and Capello has expressed concerns about Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards, the later he feels ball-watches too much.

Elsewhere, David James will also start his first England match for almost three years, when he is preferred to Scott Carson. Paul Robinson, who has been dropped from the squad, has been told that he can still have a future at international level.

Capello said: "The door is always open for everyone," he said.

Also looking certain to start tonight is Blackburn's David Bentley in the absence of David Beckham. He is chosen ahead of Shaun Wright-Phillips.

Ashley Young is also in line to play in an England team that could line-up in two or three different formations.

If Capello adopts a 4-3-3, Michael Owen will be left on the bench with Wayne Rooney the focal point of the attack, supported by Bentley and Young.

He could also use a 4-4-1-1 line-up with Joe Cole playing just off Rooney.