Capello cracks the whip

Nine of the English players involved in the Champions League final will report for international duty on Saturday ahead of Wednesday's Wembley date with the USA but it remains unclear whether the players involved will travel to Port of Spain for next Sunday's Trinidad and Tobago clash.

In his first interview in English, Capello told the BBC's Football Focus programme: "I'll decide - if I want them to go then they'll go. We are one England team and we wear one England shirt."

One player who will not be involved in either game is striker Michael Owen, who has been laid low by a virus.

The Newcastle striker's illness meant he was unable to turn up for England duty on Friday morning. Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas is also out of the squad with an ankle problem.

It is a serious blow to Owen, who has found himself used as a substitute by Capello in the Italian coach's two games in charge so far after years as an automatic choice.

It is especially galling for the 28-year-old as he had finished the season in good form for Newcastle, but his absence opens up an avenue of opportunity for relatively untested names among the forwards in the squad to stake a claim for involvement in the World Cup qualifiers next season.

West Ham's Dean Ashton, who had been targeted by Capello's predecessor Steve McClaren as a striker worth pursuing before a serious injury cruelly intervened, is likely to be given a chance and so too will Arsenal's Theo Walcott, though whether as a striker or a winger is not yet certain.

Aston Villa's Gabriel Agbonlahor and Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe are also in the squad as well as England regulars Wayne Rooney and Peter Crouch.

David Beckham will arrive on Sunday after his match for the Los Angeles Galaxy against Kansas City Wizards on Saturday night.