Mancienne gets England call - Sport in brief - Evening Standard
       

Mancienne gets England call

Twenty-year-old Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne is a surprise name in Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad for Wednesday's friendly with Germany in Berlin.

Mancienne is yet to play a game for the Stamford Bridge club but his performances on loan for Wolves and in Stuart Pearce's under-21 squad have persuaded Capello to draft him into an injury-hit senior squad for the first time.

Fellow under-21 stars Joe Hart and Gabriel Agbonlahor are also included, as is John Terry even though the England skipper is due to have a scan on a foot injury he suffered during the Blues' 3-0 win over West Brom at The Hawthorns.

As Capello is without Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney, who missed Manchester United's win over Stoke with back and calf injuries respectively, and both Ashley and Joe Cole, who also have foot problems, the England coach will hope Terry is available.

If not, he will go to Berlin without his entire first-choice defence and strikeforce, given Wigan's Emile Heskey is also missing with a calf strain.

Yet even with so many men out Capello has opted not to recall Michael Owen, who scored for Newcastle in their draw with Wigan at the JJB Stadium on Saturday.

Also excluded is David Beckham, who does not get a chance to equal Bobby Moore's 108 caps, a record for an outfield player.

Darren Bent is rewarded for his fine recent form with a recall, while Micah Richards also returns although he, Manchester City team-mates Joe Hart and Shaun Wright-Phillips plus Joleon Lescott and Stewart Downing must first get through key Premier League games for their clubs on Sunday.

Sport in brief in Pictures

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking