Parker recalled to England fold

Scott Parker has ended a two-year absence from the England squad after being recalled for the UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifiers against F.Y.R. Macedonia and Croatia next month.

'Winning attitude'
Parker, 25, was last in the England team in March 2004, though he was on the standby list for UEFA EURO 2004™. The midfielder's recent form for Newcastle United FC has caught the eye of national team manager Steve McClaren, who has drafted him in in the absence of the injured Owen Hargreaves. "Scott is having a very good run at Newcastle, he's playing well and he is a leader," said McClaren. "He is a player who epitomises what we are all about - team ethic and a winning attitude."

Rooney returns
Right winger Aaron Lennon is also out injured, but there is no recall for either former captain David Beckham or Joe Cole, who has only just returned to fitness. Wayne Rooney is back from suspension and Ledley King returns after injury, so Darren Bent joins the Under-21 squad and Michael Dawson and Luke Young miss out. Having defeated Andorra 5-0 and won 1-0 in F.Y.R. Macedonia in their opening Group E fixtures, England welcome the latter nation to Old Trafford on 7 October and are in Zagreb four days later.

England squad
Goalkeepers: Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Ben Foster (Watford FC), Chris Kirkland (Wigan Athletic FC)

Defenders: Gary Neville (Manchester United FC), Phil Neville (Everton FC), Wes Brown (Manchester United FC), John Terry (Chelsea FC), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United FC), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool FC), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Ashley Cole (Chelsea FC), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea FC)

Midfielders: Frank Lampard (Chelsea FC), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool FC), Jermaine Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur FC), Michael Carrick (Manchester United FC), Kieran Richardson (Manchester United FC), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough FC), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Chelsea FC), Scott Parker (Newcastle United FC)

Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United FC), Peter Crouch (Liverpool FC), Andrew Johnson (Everton FC), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur FC)