Steve McClaren has never missed a chance to show how different he can be from his predecessor Sven-Goran Eriksson, but even a revolution has to pause for breath. The theme is continuity in the England squad he has announced for the Euro 2008 qualifiers with Macedonia, at Old Trafford next Saturday, and Croatia in Zagreb four days later. Not even injuries have led to radical change.
While Aaron Lennon, for instance, might be out for three more weeks with a knee problem, there had to be a vacancy as Wayne Rooney returns following a ban served during the wins at home to Andorra and away to Macedonia with which England have opened Group E.
There was a need as well to accommodate established figures who have been injured, so Gary Neville returns, at Luke Young's expense. Michael Dawson stands down as Jamie Carragher and Ledley King are recalled.
King, who missed the World Cup through injury, was absent from Tottenham's Uefa Cup win over Slavia Prague on Thursday because of knee trouble.
His participation against Portsmouth tomorrow will show whether or not he can remain in the party for the qualifiers and the same is true of Jermain Defoe, whose ankle injury stopped him playing against the Czechs.
For the moment at least, Charlton's Darren Bent has to content himself with a place in the under-21 party to face Germany. The most noteworthy addition to the senior squad is Scott Parker. McClaren must decide on a replacement for Owen Hargreaves, who has broken his leg, and said of the Newcastle United midfielder: "He's playing well and he is a leader. He epitomises what we are all about - team ethic and a winning attitude."
The 25-year-old gained the second of his two caps as long ago as March 2004.
"Scott has worked incredibly hard to get called up for England," said Newcastle boss Glenn Roeder. "He had an excellent first season here before missing the last bit of it after contracting glandular fever.
"He's started this season better than last year. Having the captaincy has helped him - he likes the responsibility and the other players respect him. And since I've allowed him to break forward he's done very well and scored a couple of goals."
Like Hargreaves, Parker does cover without being an exclusively defensive figure.
"Last season," said Roeder, "Scott was very much a holding player, but I see him in much more of a box-to-box role. He's versatile and intelligent enough to play the holding role for England, though."
Guardian Service
ENGLAND SQUAD (v Macedonia and Croatia): Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Manchester Utd), Kirkland (Liverpool); G Neville (Manchester Utd), P Neville (Everton), Brown (Manchester Utd), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), King (Tottenham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Jenas (Tottenham), Carrick (Manchester Utd), Richardson (Manchester Utd), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker (Newcastle Utd); Rooney (Manchester Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Johnson (Everton), Defoe (Spurs).
