Capello Experiments

England team to face Japan:
David James, Glen Johnson, John Terry, Rio Ferdinand, Ashley Cole, Theo Walcott, Tom Huddlestone, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent

From BBCSport.co.uk

England coach Fabio Capello has rung the changes for their final friendly before the World Cup, handing starts to Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent.

Tottenham midfielder Huddlestone and Sunderland striker Bent will hope to impress against Japan on Sunday.

Chelsea trio John Terry, Ashley Cole and Frank Lampard return but there is no place for club-mate Joe Cole.

Capello, who revealed he already knows 20 of his 23-man party, will trim his squad from 30 to 23 on Tuesday.

There had been concern regarding the fitness of Steven Gerrard after the Mexico game but the Liverpool captain will be a substitute against Japan and Capello insisted he is not worried about the midfielder.

"He is fit. He was tired after the game against Mexico," said Capello. "He won't play the first half against Japan but probably the second half. I know him very well and just want to get to know the other players."

England's line-up for the friendly in Austria has a slightly experimental look with Tottenham's Aaron Lennon operating in an unaccustomed left-wing role while Arsenal's Theo Walcott will start on the right wing.

But when asked whether the team that starts the game against Japan will be his same starting 11 for England's opening game of the World Cup against the United States on the 12 June, Capello replied: "no, absolutely not."

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James will come into the side as he aims to establish himself as England's number one ahead of West Ham's Robert Green, who impressed against Mexico, and Joe Hart of Manchester City.

But Capello admitted he has "more or less" decided who will start in goal.

Bent, who missed the game against Mexico with a hamstring injury, will start as Capello tries another strike partner with Manchester United talisman Wayne Rooney.

The pair scored 50 Premier League goals between them this season but Bent has Peter Crouch, Jermain Defoe, and Emile Heskey to battle with for a place on the plane to South Africa.

Captain Rio Ferdinand will lead the side out, while Glen Johnson continues at right-back.

Unless Capello makes any late changes to his starting line-up for the game against Japan there will be seven players yet to feature in England's two World Cup warm-up games, either starting or as a substitute.

However, the seven of Chelsea's Joe Cole, Tottenham's Michael Dawson, West Ham's Matthew Upson and Scott Parker, Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips and Aston Villa's Stephen Warnock and Emile Heskey could still come off the bench on Sunday.

I can't say I'm happy to see Lennon on the left, I'd rather have seen Adam Johnson or Joe Cole out there, with Lennon in his usual right hand position, but I have not doubt Capello knows what he needs to see in England's last friendly before the World Cup.

It'll be good to see Huddlestone get a start although I'm unsure whether he's ready to play at a World Cup, his mobility would worry me against the better sides in the tournament, and based on the fact Rooney & Crouch are probably assured of a place I'm wondering if Bent is competing with Heskey or Defoe for the final striker spot?

Cheers,
AM