Joey Barton and Gareth Barry are the major casualties of Steve
McClaren's urgent need for results after the England coach named a
streamlined 23-man party for the crucial Euro 2008 double-header
against Israel and Andorra.
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Despite not doing much wrong in the recent friendly defeat to
Spain, neither man has made McClaren's squad for England's first
competitive fixture since the dismal loss to Croatia in
October.
Barry's omission in particular is a slight surprise given Ashley
Cole - who is selected - is suspended for the Israel encounter and
his regular left-back deputy Wayne Bridge is injured.
It confirmed Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville are vying for the
defensive berth from a squad where 13 players are due to play twice
in 48 hours over the weekend, culminating in FA Cup quarter-final
replays on Monday.
McClaren has already joked he will be watching the replays 'with
his eyes closed' fearing the damage the extra fixtures could cause
to his planning.
Having slipped to third spot in Group E, England need to pick up at
least a point in Tel Aviv to ease the pressure on McClaren and
retain a realistic hope of reaching next summer's finals in Austria
and Switzerland.
Of the side which started against Spain at Old Trafford, only four
players are likely to keep their place when England look to follow
Croatia's lead by winning in Israel.
Peter Crouch is injured and Shaun Wright-Phillips has been axed,
although given his lack of first-team opportunities at Chelsea, it
is surprising the winger was picked at all.
Michael Carrick, Jonathan Woodgate, Kieron Dyer and Ben Foster can
expect places on the bench at best unless McClaren thinking
dramatically alters over the next week.
Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson has already been guaranteed a
recall, while his White Hart Lane team-mate Aaron Lennon seems
certain to occupy the left-sided spot in a four-man midfield which
will see Steven Gerrard start on the right.
Rather than inhibit the Liverpool skipper, McClaren feels the move
offers Gerrard the freedom to attack, especially now Owen
Hargreaves is back.
Squad: Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Man Utd, on loan at Watford),
Carson (Liverpool, on loan at Charlton), Neville (Man Utd),
Richards (Man City), Ferdinand (Man Utd), Terry (Chelsea, capt),
Woodgate (Real Madrid, on loan at Middlesbrough), Carragher
(Liverpool), A Cole (Chelsea), P Neville (Everton), Gerrard
(Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Lampard (Chelsea), Lennon
(Tottenham), Parker (Newcastle), Carrick (Man Utd), Dyer
(Newcastle), Downing (Middlesbrough), Johnson (Everton), Rooney
(Man Utd), Defoe (Tottenham), Bent (Charlton).
