March 20 2005

Andy Johnson

Andrew Johnson has been called up to the England squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan.

Sven Goran Eriksson has also given Middlesbrough winger Stewart Downing another chance to impress.

England face home nation rivals Northern Ireland at Old Trafford next Saturday before taking on Azerbaijan at St James' Park the following Wednesday, as they look to extend their one-point lead in European World Cup qualifying Group Six.

The full 24 man squad is as follows: -

Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), David James (Manchester City), Robert Green (Norwich City); Gary Neville (Manchester United), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Phil Neville (Manchester United), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), John Terry (Chelsea), Wes Brown (Manchester United), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur); David Beckham (Real Madrid), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Stewart Downing (Middlesbrough), Kieron Dyer (Newcastle United); Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Andrew Johnson (Crystal Palace), Emile Heskey (Birmingham City)