Capello names Heskey in favour of Young, Crouch and Bent

The Wigan Athletic striker Emile Heskey has been recalled to the England squad for the friendly against the Czech Republic on Wednesday. The England manager Fabio Capello named Heskey in a 23-man squad, but left out the Aston Villa winger Ashley Young, the Portsmouth forward Peter Crouch and the Tottenham striker Darren Bent. Heskey last played for England against Russia last September, although was picked in Capello's first squad for a friendly against Switzerland in February before withdrawing through injury.

The Newcastle forward Michael Owen is currently injured and was not in the squad named yesterday by Capello. West Ham's Dean Ashton scored twice against Wigan on Saturday but injured a hamstring, leaving Manchester United's Wayne Rooney, Portsmouth's Jermain Defoe and Arsenal's Theo Walcott to compete with Heskey for a place in the England starting XI.

The Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart keeps his place after winning his first senior cap as a substitute against Trinidad & Tobago, and Paul Robinson, recently signed by Blackburn Rovers also earns a recall. Both are understudies to David James, who is expected to start the match in goal.

There are few other surprises, with Steven Gerrard, Gareth Barry, Frank Lampard, David Bentley and Michael Carrick named in midfield, alongside David Beckham, who could win his 103rd cap.

The friendly at Wembley is the final match before Capello will name his first competitive squad, for the 2010 World Cup qualifiers against Andorra and Croatia in September.

Full squad

David James (Portsmouth), Paul Robinson (Blackburn Rovers), Joe Hart (Manchester City); Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Portsmouth), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), David Bentley (Tottenham Hotspur), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), David Beckham (LA Galaxy), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough); Wayne Rooney, (Manchester United), Jermain Defoe (Portsmouth), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Emile Heskey (Wigan Athletic).