England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson has left Emile Heskey out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup Group Six qualifiers away to Austria in Vienna next Saturday and Poland in Chorzow four days later.
The English FA, posting the squad on its website today, said Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole was back after missing the 3-0 friendly win over Ukraine earlier this month due to injury.
Eriksson said Heskey remained in his plans despite his omission.
"The door is not closed for Emile Heskey," he said. "But I've seen a lot of Alan Smith and Jermain Defoe recently and they deserve their chance this time.
"However, I want to make clear that Emile has never let England down and he is still very much a part of my thinking."
Eriksson was evidently happy to see Cole holding down a place in the Chelsea side, saying earlier on Sunday: "I think it's important for him at club level to find a role.
"I should be very happy to see him play in the same position for a number of games," Eriksson told the FA website. "That's the most important thing because it's difficult for me if he's not starting."
Heskey moved to Birmingham from Liverpool for £6.25 million in the close season after then-Liverpool manager Gerard Houllier finally ran out of patience with his lack of confidence and goals.
He lost his place in England's starting line-up to 18-year-old Wayne Rooney prior to Euro 2004 where the teenager scored four goals. Heskey has only netted five times in 43 games for the national side.
Rooney is still out, recovering from a broken foot sustained in the Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat to Portugal in June so Manchester United striker Alan Smith is expected to partner new Real Madrid signing Michael Owen in attack.
Smith has scored four times for United in the Premier League and Champions League qualifying so far this season after signing from Leeds United at the end of last season.
Both Owen and captain David Beckham will arrive late for England training this week due to commitments with Real Madrid.
Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips, who scored on his debut against Ukraine, was also in the squad despite his club manager Kevin Keegan saying he was doubtful after being injured in the 4-0 win over Charlton on Saturday.
Norwich City's Robert Green replaces Liverpool's Chris Kirkland, who has again been struck by injury, as the third choice goalkeeper.
"I hope the form of the players is going to be the same as it was against Ukraine," Eriksson said. "If we play like that I think we have a very good chance of two very positive results."
Squad:
Goalkeepers: David James (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (Norwich City)
Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Matthew Upson (Birmingham City), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Gary Neville (Manchester United)
Midfielders: Nicky Butt (Newcastle United), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), David Beckham (Real Madrid, Spain), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich, Germany), Joe Cole (Chelsea)
Strikers: Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Alan Smith (Manchester United), Darius Vassell (Aston Villa)