Young rewarded with an England promotion

Blackburn's David Bentley, who was left out of the squad for the recent friendly against Germany as a disciplinary measure, was also included for the two matches, both at Wembley, on 8 and 12 September.

Aston Villa's midfielder Young was the only real surprise in the squad. The former Watford player, who moved to Villa Park last January for £7million, impressed during the summer's Under-21 European Championship Finals in Holland and McClaren feels the time is right for the 22-year-old to make the step up.

"I think it is good for experience," said McClaren. "He has has done well for the Under-21s and he has carried that into the beginning of the season. It is an ideal opportunity to bring in one of the Under-21s, which I'm keen to do."

Bentley's inclusion is a sign that all is forgiven after he angered Under-21 coach Stuart Pearce after withdrawing from the Holland tournament at the last minute, saying he was suffering from fatigue.

The former Arsenal star had previously impressed in a B-international and is cover for the right-hand side of England's midfield, now that David Beckham is out with a knee ligament injury. "I thought it was the right decision," said McClaren, referring to the player's omission last time.

"He accepted that and he paid the consequences but this is a new squad and he is in it and deserves to be in it."

With Beckham even a doubt for England's two qualifiers in October, at home to Estonia and away to Russia, the door is now wide open, though, for Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips to make an impact.

Bentley will be a challenger for that right-hand side role but McClaren has said that he has been impressed by Wright-Phillips in the first few weeks of the new season.

The England coach did leave it late before bringing on the Chelsea winger in the second half of the friendly against Germany and then played him on the left flank instead.

McClaren's options were limited in that match since he wanted to give Beckham, who had been struggling with an ankle injury, a full 90 minutes.

With Beckham now missing for the foreseeable future, McClaren will be able to see what Wright-Phillips can do.

The coach's main concern, though, is up front where he is already without the injured Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch, who is suspended for the match against Israel a week tomorrow.

Michael Owen did score for Newcastle against Barnsley in the Carling Cup earlier this week but the striker admits he needs more games before he rediscovers his sharpness.

McClaren played Owen's Newcastle team-mate Alan Smith up front in the match against Germany but Smith had a quiet time.

Another option is Tottenham's Jermain Defoe, who was once again left on the substitutes' bench in that game. McClaren must also decide whether to make a change in goal, where Spurs keeper Paul Robinson has looked vulnerable in recent matches and made the mistake which led to the Germans scoring on their way to a 2-1 win.

Portsmouth's David James, who has been the most consistent English-born keeper in the Premier League over the last 12 months, replaced Robinson at half-time in that match and looks likely to win his No1 international place back against Israel.

McClaren knows he will be under enormous pressure if his team fail to win both home games, but said: "We are very positive that it is in our hands. We have home games coming up and we have got to make them count.

"The players know what they have got to do. They are used to that at club level and international level.

"We normally win the big games and we have to do it again."