England recall Wilshere for Sweden friendly

England recall Wilshere for Sweden friendly

England manager Roy Hodgson recalled fit-again midfielder Jack Wilshere to his squad on Thursday for next week's friendly away to Sweden and also awarded a first call-up to Everton's Leon Osman.

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere pictured during his side's Premier League match against QPR at The Emirates Stadium in north London on October 27, 2012. England coach Roy Hodgson recalled fit-again midfielder Wilshere to his squad on Thursday for next week's friendly away to Sweden and also awarded a first call-up to Everton's Leon Osman.

Steven Gerrard is in line to win his 100th cap in Stockholm on November 14, while goalkeeper Fraser Forster retains his place in the squad after starring in Celtic's shock 2-1 Champions League win over Barcelona on Wednesday.

Chelsea left-back Ashley Cole was overlooked due to injury and there was no place for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, who made his comeback from injury in the Champions League on Wednesday.

Arsenal playmaker Wilshere, 21, recently returned after spending 16 months on the sidelines through injury, which forced him to miss the whole of last season.

He has not represented his country since he made his fifth appearance against Switzerland in June last year.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said Wilshere needs to be eased back into action gently, but his sending off in the 2-1 loss away to Manchester United last weekend means he will not play at home to Fulham on Saturday.

Liverpool duo Jonjo Shelvey, 20, and Raheem Sterling, 17, were both retained by former Reds manager Hodgson, while 31-year-old Osman is rewarded for several seasons of consistent displays in midfield for Everton.

Manchester United winger Ashley Young is back in the squad after a spell on the sidelines, but Frank Lampard and the Manchester City trio of Jack Rodwell, Joleon Lescott and James Milner are all out injured.

Jermain Defoe, Andy Carroll and Michael Carrick were all left out, but Hodgson says they remain part of his plans.

Hodgson also revealed that he intends to hand a call-up to Arsenal full-back Carl Jenkinson, as long as he receives international clearance from FIFA in time.

Jenkinson has previously played for Finland at youth level and Hodgson is awaiting the green light from world football's governing body before he awards the 20-year-old a place in the squad.

"The reason I didn't include Carl from the start is because we haven't, at this moment in time, got clearance from FIFA but we do believe that they are going to grant that clearance within a day or two," Hodgson told FA TV.

"So by next Wednesday, he will be clear to play. He wants to play for England and has made that clear so we applied for permission to FIFA, as one is allowed to do, immediately after he left us and before we set off for Poland (for a World Cup qualifying match)."

Next week's game in Stockholm is being held to mark the opening of the new Friends Arena in the Swedish capital.

Squad

Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster (Celtic/SCO), Joe Hart (Manchester City), John Ruddy (Norwich City)

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Steven Caulker (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ryan Shawcross (Stoke City), Kyle Walker (Tottenham Hotspur)

Midfielders: Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham Hotspur), Leon Osman (Everton), Jonjo Shelvey (Liverpool), Raheem Sterling (Liverpool), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal), Ashley Young (Manchester United)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Daniel Welbeck (Manchester United)

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