Capello shields England newcomers

The Italian is acutely aware that the mood among supporters is fairly mutinous ahead of the friendly with Hungary.

Having had their lofty World Cup expectations – which Capello fuelled rather than quashed – crushed mercilessly by Germany, those that do bother to turn up are expected to vent their frustrations.

So, rather than send the younger members of his squad out to face the initial force of that anger, Capello is set to select only players who were present in South Africa in his starting outfield line-up. "The first XI will be players who were at the World Cup," he said. "This is sure because, like me, they have to take the booing.

"I expect boos. Why not? We win together, we lose together.

"Always, I respect the crowd but I am the boss. They have to boo me like the players."

In confronting the possibility in quite such a straightforward manner, Capello has almost certainly ensured England will have the South African drone of vuvuzelas replaced by the shrill jeers of their own fans ringing in their ears at kick-off.

Eventually, he hopes the atmosphere will settle down though, enough to allow the introduction of Arsenal duo Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere, who form the central component of the new era on which he is embarking.

Capello has pledged to hand both men their first caps, which in Wilshere's case would make him the 10th-youngest England international of all time at 17.

In addition, Bobby Zamora will get some involvement to become a third debutant on a night when the Football Association are optimistic about beating the 57,897 that turned up for the World Cup qualifier against Andorra in June 2009, the lowest gate for an England game at the new Wembley since it was opened in 2007.

A first start will be handed to Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart, who is now in a straight battle with Birmingham's Ben Foster for the No 1 shirt as Paul Robinson's retirement came immediately after the decision to axe both David James and Robert Green.

As Hart's position at City is unclear and Foster is prone to injury, Capello may yet rue Robinson's decision, although, despite not appearing to handle the Green situation too well, is ready to usher the West Ham goalkeeper back into the fold for the Euro 2012 qualification double-header against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

"This time we preferred to select Robinson, next time it will be Green," said Capello, who claims to be unconcerned about the legacy of that woeful mistake against the United States that cost England victory in their opening game and set them on a downward spiral from which they were unable to escape.

"Everyone makes mistakes. I do, you do," Capello told the journalists present at his briefing at the Grove Hotel in Watford.

"If I select him it is because I respect him."

Given the sensitivities of fulfilling an international fixture immediately before the Premier League season is launched on Saturday, Capello has pledged to use all six available substitutes, which could also include Ashley Young, whose proposed move from Aston Villa to Tottenham is being cited as one of the factors behind Martin O'Neill's shock resignation yesterday as Villa manager.

Capello clearly has his own worries at present, although he continues to insist life could have been so different had Frank Lampard not been denied a perfectly good equaliser in the last-16 encounter against Germany.

"As a manager, there have been lots of occasions when the first half is a disaster but the second half changed completely," he said.

"Before the World Cup we played against all the top teams apart from Argentina, and Brazil were the best. In the first half against Holland they played very well, scored one goal and had a lot of chances. In the second half, after Holland equalised, the game changed completely.

"All these Brazil players with so much experience, played without confidence and with fear.

"For this reason, it was probably important Lampard's goal was given."