• England news

England recall for Andy Carroll

Roy Hodgson is undecided on his captain, but it could be Wayne Rooney © PA Photos

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Hodgson will urge England fans to avoid anti-IRA chants
  

Roy Hodgson has included Andy Carroll in a 22-man England squad for the friendlies with Republic of Ireland and Brazil.

England face Ireland at Wembley on May 29 and then take on Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on June 2, having already beaten Luiz Felipe Scolari's men 2-1 in a home friendly in February.

Liverpool striker Carroll, currently on a season-long loan at West Ham United, has not played for his country since coming on as a substitute in the 5-0 home victory over San Marino in October but the 24-year-old will again get the chance to impress.

I'm not worried about his playing style," England manager Hodgson said. "There's always going to be room for a player of his type and his class who can hold the ball up."

Reading goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, having returned to action after four months out through injury, receives his first call-up, with Birmingham goalkeeper Jack Butland part of the England Under-21 squad for the European Championship in Israel.

Hodgson suggested it was unlikely McCarthy would play any part in the two matches as he felt they were "preparation games" rather than friendlies, stressing that he wanted to use "players I think might be important for us in the qualifiers in September and October", but he feels it was worth including the 23-year-old keeper.

"This is a good chance to bring him in behind Joe Hart and Ben Foster and see how he copes," he explained.

Hodgson had indicated in recent days that he planned to usher in the new generation as part of a "changing of the guard". Rio Ferdinand then announced his international retirement, while the England boss said that John Terry is unlikely to make a return to the fold.

However, Frank Lampard, 34, is again included in the squad on the day he signed a new one-year contract with Chelsea.

With Steven Gerrard absent though injury, Hodgson said he had not decided on his captain but indicated that it would be between Lampard and Wayne Rooney, with Chelsea defender Ashley Cole expressing little interest in leading the team.

"Lampard and Rooney are the captains elect," he said. "The last time I spoke to Ashley about it, he was more than happy to stay in the shadows, out of the limelight."

England squad:
Ben Foster, Joe Hart, Alex McCarthy; Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Phil Jones, Joleon Lescott, Kyle Walker; Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott; Andy Carroll, Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Danny Welbeck

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.