• No place for Rio Ferdinand despite being fit
Phil Jones, right, has impressed the England manager, Fabio Capello, in his games for Manchester United this season. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Fabio Capello has demonstrated his faith in the centre-half Phil Jones by naming the uncapped Manchester United player in the party for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Bulgaria and Wales. Although Jones, 19, has received much praise and was included in the squad for the Holland friendly that was called off because of rioting in London, it is still a substantial promotion for a teenager.
It is a sign of Capello's faith in him that a defender he describes as "so young, so good" is, in effect, preferred to Rio Ferdinand. The older United centre-half remained on the bench during the rout of Arsenal but the fact that he was there at all indicates he was in condition to take some part following the injury he suffered at West Bromwich Albion. But Capello was still not persuaded to turn to him.
The theme of England rejuvenation applies as well to another United player who has caught the eye of the manager. Tom Cleverley, who joined Jones in the party for the Holland friendly, is in the group again. To some extent the initiatives taken by Capello are forced upon him. At right-back, for instance, Micah Richards has played under him for only 45 minutes and United's Chris Smalling is uncapped. Phil Jagielka, if picked there, would be out of position. The first choice, Glen Johnson, is injured.
Capello might have preferred a more cautious approach but options are in short supply. He cannot have foreseen so much redevelopment of his squad at this crucial stage. But players such as Jones could soon have to bear heavy responsibility.
England squad (v Bulgaria and Wales): Hart, Green, Stockdale; A Cole, Cahill, Terry, Baines, Jagielka, Smalling, P Jones, Richards, Lescott; Downing, Barry, Johnson, Milner, Lampard, Cleverley, A Young, Parker, Walcott; Bent, Carroll, Rooney, Defoe.
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