Goalkeeper David James and forgotten defender Jonathan Woodgate are set for a surprise return to the England squad for the World Cup warm-up match against Argentina in Geneva next weekend.
Coach Sven-Goran Eriksson will name his squad on Sunday for the November 12 match.
James should get a chance to return to the England fold at least as the third-choice goalkeeper thanks to the woes of injury-prone West Bromwich Albion keeper Chris Kirkland, who is out of action after bruising a kidney.
The 35-year-old Manchester City goalkeeper, relegated to number two behind Tottenham Hotspur's Paul Robinson after his blunder gifted Austria an equaliser in a World Cup qualifier last year, was dropped altogether after his part in England's 4-1 friendly humiliation by Denmark in August.
Woodgate has made a promising comeback with Real Madrid in the last three weeks after more than 18 months out of action following a complicated leg injury and a last cap in a friendly against Sweden in March 2004.
Eriksson has a wealth of top central defenders at his disposal, with his first choice generally coming from two out of Rio Ferdinand, John Terry and Sol Campbell but may be considering back-up roles for some.
Other central defenders Eriksson has played recently are Jamie Carragher, who stood in at left back in last month's qualifying group decider against Poland, and Ledley King, an impressive holding midfielder in the same game.
Eriksson evidently wants to see several fringe players in action in the few warm-ups he has before the World Cup finals in Germany in eight months' time, starting with the game against arch-rivals Argentina, a test he is expected to start with his strongest available eleven.
With the match coming in the middle of an international fortnight for the World Cup playoffs -- first legs on November 12 and second legs four days later -- Eriksson is not expected to meet with club resistance to release any players he picks.
