England hit by triple withdrawal

Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has become the third withdrawal from the England squad to play Spain in a friendly at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
Kirkland, who has a shoulder injury, joins Everton striker Andrew Johnson (ankle) and Chelsea defender Wayne Bridge (thigh) on the sidelines.

Johnson played in Everton's draw at Liverpool on Saturday but does not feel his problem has healed enough.

However, Manchester United have cleared Wayne Rooney to join up with the squad.

Spurs midfielder Jermaine Jenas pulled out of the squad on Sunday, while BBC Sport columnist and Bayern Munich midfielder Owen Hargreaves has confirmed he will not play in the match.

Kirkland's withdrawal means England only have two fit goalkeepers, and it means that Manchester United's Ben Foster is likely to be handed a place on the bench behind Spurs' Paul Robinson.

Rooney limped out of United's 4-0 win over Tottenham on Sunday and Football Association medics will make a final decision on his fitness.

Real Madrid's on-loan Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate, who has reportedly joined Boro permanently, was recalled for the first time since 2004.

Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and Gareth Barry of Aston Villa also returned after long absences from the national squad.

England skipper John Terry was included in the squad, despite a lack of first-team action since undergoing back surgery at the end of December.

Manchester City midfielder Joey Barton is in line to make his first England appearance after being called into the squad for the first time when the squad was announced on Friday.

Barton, 24, is expected to win his first call-up after impressing England coach Steve McClaren with his form and attitude this season.

Barton joins up with Manchester City team-mate Micah Richards, who is expected to win his second cap, having made his England bow against Holland in Amsterdam in December.

Woodgate's inclusion marks the end of an injury nightmare for the former Newcastle and Leeds defender.

His last appearance for England was against Sweden in March 2004, since when his international career has been put on hold by a spate of injuries.

McClaren has watched the centre-half put in some strong displays for Middlesbrough but Woodgate himself remained cautious, saying: "I am not really thinking about England."

Dyer was another player recalled to the squad after a long battle with injury. He last played for England in March 2005.

Barry has been recalled following a four-year international exile.

His reward for some impressive performances for Villa this season is a chance to add to his eight caps.

Barry was resigned to never winning another cap under previous boss Sven-Goran Eriksson but McClaren has brought him back for the first time since March 2003.

This week's friendly is Spain's first visit to England since February 2001 and is the 21st encounter between the two sides, with England claiming 11 victories to Spain's six.

Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres returns to the Spain squad but Real Madrid striker Raul is omitted.

Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos will both play even though they will miss the forthcoming Euro 2008 qualifier with Denmark through suspension.



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England (squad):
Robinson (Tottenham), Foster (Watford); Gary Neville (Man Utd), Phil Neville (Everton), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Woodgate (Middlesbrough), Terry (Chelsea), Carragher (Liverpool), Dawson (Tottenham), Richards (Man City); Lennon (Tottenham), Gerrard (Liverpool), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Carrick (Man Utd), Downing (Midd'boro), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Parker (Newcastle), Lampard (Chelsea), Barry (Aston Villa), Barton (Man City), Dyer (Newcastle); Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham).

Spain (squad):
Reina (Liverpool), Casillas (Real Madrid); Lopez (Atletico Madrid), Ibanez (Atletico Madrid), Puyol (Barcelona), Capdevila (Deportivo La Coruna), Ramos (Real Madrid), Navarro (Sevilla); Fabregas (Arsenal), Iniesta (Barcelona), Xavi (Barcelona), Lopez (Celta Vigo), Alonso (Liverpool), Albelda (Valencia), David (Valencia); Torres (Atletico Madrid), Arizmendi (Deportivo La Coruna), Angulo (Valencia) , Morientes (Valencia), Villa (Valencia).