Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole could all play their part in England reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup after being called again by Fabio Capello.
The trio have been regulars under the Italian head coach of late and were always expected to feature in the 24-man selection to play a friendly at home against Slovenia this Saturday before the all-important qualifier against Croatia on Wednesday week. Should Capello's side win that Group Six encounter they will be certain of a place at the finals in South Africa.
The 29-year-old Green has started the last three internationals and has five caps to his name. His form has been tremendous at the start of the new club season, with clean sheets in the away win and draw at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers respectively. Upson, 30, is the most experienced of the trio. He has 15 caps and one goal for his country, and could get the nod to replace the injured Rio Ferdinand.
Up front, the 25-year-old Cole has retained his place after his excellent substitute's cameo in the last friendly - a 0-0 draw in the Netherlands on 12 August. That was his third international cap although he is yet to find the net. He is up and running for West Ham though, with a superb strike against Tottenham Hotspur a week ago in front of the watching Capello.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham United), Robinson (Blackburn Rovers)
Defenders: Johnson (Liverpool), Brown (Manchester United), Upson (West Ham United), Terry (Chelsea), Lescott (Manchester City), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Barry (Manchester City), Lampard (Chelsea), Carrick (Manchester United), Gerrard (Liverpool), A Young (Aston Villa), Milner (Aston Villa)
Strikers: Rooney (Manchester United), Heskey (Aston Villa), Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), C Cole (West Ham United), Crouch (Tottenham Hotspur).