Carrick cut by Capello

Capello trims squad for Switzerland game

By Lewis Rutledge   Last updated: 2nd February 2008

Fabio Capello

Capello: Trimmed squad

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Michael Carrick and Stewart Downing are among the players to have been left out of Fabio Capello's 23-man England squad.

A 30-man party was named on Thursday but that has now been trimmed by seven ahead of the friendly against Switzerland.

Curtis Davies was the surprise inclusion in the initial party but he has not made the final squad.

Ledley King, who missed Tottenham's 1-1 draw with Manchester United, has also missed out, along with fellow defenders Glen Johnson and Nicky Shorey.

Emile Heskey had already been forced to withdraw after suffering an injury in Wigan's 1-0 victory over West Ham.

Carrick and Downing have been regulars in the England squad over the last couple of years but Capello has opted to cut them and look more closely at the likes of Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young and David Bentley.

Capello will name his captain for the game on Tuesday, but is not planning to make a permanent appointment.

He said: "I want to be clear that the players who have not made the squad this time are still part of my plans.

"We will be monitoring the form of everyone very closely as we work towards the competitive matches which start in September.

King blow

"It is of course a blow to lose Ledley King from the squad. He is a very good player who has impressed me a lot when I have seen him play.

"I am fully aware of his injury status after speaking with Juande Ramos on Friday.

"Emile Heskey's injury is disappointing too, but we have to concentrate on the players who are in the squad."

"I plan to name a captain for the Switzerland game on Tuesday but I don't expect to appoint a permanent captain until we start the qualifying games.

"I want to work closely with the players before deciding on this.

"I'm looking forward to working with them on the training ground. There is a lot of work to do but I am ready for the challenge.

"We have seven months to prepare for our first competitive match, but the work really starts now."

England squad: David James (Portsmouth), Scott Carson (Aston Villa), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic); Wayne Bridge (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Joleon Lescott (Everton), Micah Richards (Manchester City) Matthew Upson (West Ham United), Jonathan Woodgate (Tottenham Hotspur); Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Aston Villa), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur), Owen Hargreaves (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Ashley Young (Aston Villa), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), David Bentley (Blackburn Rovers); Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa) Michael Owen (Newcastle United), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Peter Crouch (Liverpool)