Former captain David Beckham was left out of Fabio Capello's first England squad yesterday for next week's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.
The LA Galaxy midfielder, who was hoping to win his 100th cap, has not played a competitive match since England's 3-2 defeat by Croatia in a Euro 2008 qualifier last November but had been training with Arsenal in a bid to maintain his fitness.
It is not a new experience for the 32-year-old former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfielder who was also left out of former England manager Steve McClaren's first squad before eventually being recalled.
Goalkeeper Paul Robinson, first choice until being dropped for the Croatia game, was also omitted from the squad after being relegated to the bench at Tottenham.
Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor and defender Curtis Davies, on loan at Villa from West Bromwich Albion, have been given the chance to win their first caps after being named in a 30-man squad that will be trimmed to 23 after tomorrow's league games.
ENGLAND SQUAD (Provisional - for friendly international v Switzerland, February 6th): Carson (Aston Villa), James (Portsmouth), Kirkland (Wigan Ath); Bridge (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester Utd), A Cole (Chelsea), C Davies (Aston Villa), Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), G Johnson (Portsmouth), King (Tottenham), Lescott (Everton), Richards (Manchester City), Shorey (Reading), Upson (West Ham Utd), Woodgate (Tottenham); Barry (Aston Villa), Bentley (Blackburn), Carrick (Manchester Utd), J Cole (Chelsea), Downing (Middlesbrough), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Manchester Utd), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Young (Aston Villa); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Crouch (Liverpool), Heskey (Wigan Ath), Owen (Newcastle), Rooney (Manchester Utd).
