I've just read the 23 man squad for Fabio Capello's next England team to face Germany in Berlin on wednesday. Not included are some of the more familiar names, such as David Beckham, Wayne Rooney (injury), Rio Ferdinand (injury), but INcluded are some rather nice little shocks, one of which being Michael Mancienne, the promising centre back coming through Chelsea's youth ranks who is currently on loan at Wolves. Personally, I'm quite glad that he has been called up, even though he probably won't get to play (like Jimmy Bullard), however Mancienne is young and talented and it'll do him the world of good to get to train with top players in a top environment and will set him in good stead for the future. He's a quality talent and I look forward to seeing him in the next few years in the Chelsea first team.


Here is the rest of the squad:
England squad to play Germany: Carson, Hart, James, Bridge, Davies, Johnson, Terry, Lescott, Mancienne, Richards, Upson, Barry, Carrick, Downing, Lampard, Gerrard, Wright-Phillips, A Young, Agbonlahor, Bent, Crouch, Defoe, Walcott.


It's good to see Darren Bent getting a recall as I've been extremely impressed with his recent performances under Harry Redknapp. We still look weak at left back though, with Bridge being our strongest one until Ashley Cole gets back from injury. And I wonder which Davies that is? Probably Curtis, but I wish the website would be clearer. Somebody might actually think that Marcus Bent got called up instead of Darren Bent! Barry, I suppose, could fill in at left back, as could Lescott, but they'd both be rubbish there. I still don't rate Carrick, and probably never will but at least we've got some decent, in-form strikers here. Agbonlahor has got bags of pace, as does Defoe and Walcott (winger? or is that for SWP? or maybe Ashley Young, he's playing well), plus with Bent in form and Crouch for the aeriel threat, we've almost got a solid side here. Downing, no comment. Finally, 2 (out of 3) decent keepers. You choose which ones you think are the decent two, I guess there's no right answer to that one. Richards, if he's fit, should be right-back. Simple as. Uhh... wow, it's kinda difficult to pick a starting 11 based on recent form... our players are actually playing well for a change! Who would've thought!


Anyway, here is the article about Mancienne which, along with the squad news, is taken directly from BBC Sport website:


Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne has been handed a shock call-up to the England squad to face Germany in Berlin on Wednesday.

The 20-year-old, currently on loan at Championship leaders Wolves, joins Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor in boss Fabio Capello's 23-man party.

Manchester United pair Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand are absent with calf and back injuries, respectively.

And David Beckham misses the chance to equal Bobby Moore's tally of 108 caps.

The 33-year-old LA Galaxy midfielder has not played since the Major League Soccer season finished on 26 October and Capello has made it clear he will only pick players who are playing regularly.

Beckham will be inactive until he joins Italian side AC Milan on loan in January.

Mancienne, who is yet to play for the Chelsea first team, joins uncapped Villa duo Curtis Davies and Gabriel Agbonlahor.

England and Chelsea captain John Terry is included despite picking up an injury during the Blues' 3-0 win at West Brom earlier on Saturday.

Tottenham striker Darren Bent, revitalised under new Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, earns a recall, while Manchester City's Joe Hart and Micah Richards also return.

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