Ferdinand set to return to the ranks against Swiss

Rio Ferdinand is expected to return to the England fold as a foot soldier for the first time since October 2009 when Fabio Capello today names his squad for next month’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Switzerland.

Named captain in February last year after John Terry was stripped of the honour, Ferdinand was able to perform the duty on only four out of 15 possible occasions due to injury.

It was the 32-year-old’s absence from the February friendly in Denmark that prompted Capello to give Terry his old job back, the Italian receiving severe criticism for his handling of the issue, in particular his failure to contact Ferdinand in advance.

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Ferdinand has not spoken publicly about the snub, although neither has he offered any indication that he is unwilling to represent his country again.

Capello would want the Manchester United man around for a match England need to win if they are to retain favouritism in Group G.

Ferdinand’s Red Devils colleague Wayne Rooney is ruled out through suspension, so with Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch out of form at Tottenham and both Andy Carroll and Danny Welbeck struggling with injuries, Capello does have a striking problem.

Darren Bent’s run of a goal in each of his last three internationals ensures his inclusion and Fulham’s Bobby Zamora is a possible, but with Steven Gerrard ruled out as well, Ashley Young could be asked to supply support in attack.

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Jack Wilshere will be selected, although after weeks of pleading from Arsene Wenger, Stuart Pearce is said to be debating over whether to include the Arsenal midfielder in his squad for the European Under-21 Championships.

Talks are believed to be continuing with West Ham’s Robert Green over his England plans. Although Joe Hart is clearly Capello’s first-choice goalkeeper, with Ben Foster standing down from international duty, Capello has a chronic lack of experience as cover.

Scott Carson, who has made just one substitute appearance since his only competitive cap, the nightmare home game against Croatia in November 2007 when he gifted the visitors a goal that helped dump England out of Euro 2008, is guaranteed to be involved.

If Green cannot be persuaded to remain within the Three Lions set-up, Fulham’s No 2 goalkeeper David Stockdale would seem the most likely alternative at present.

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England have 10 points from their four games and are level with Montenegro, who entertain Bulgaria in Podgorica, also on June 4.

Pearce will also announce his England squad for next month’s European Under-21 Championship this afternoon.

Wolves midfielder David Edwards has withdrawn from the Wales squad for the Carling Nations Cup matches.

Edwards has not played since February due to a back injury but had been named in Gary Speed’s initial party for the games against Scotland and Northern Ireland in Dublin.

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The 25-year-old has endured a difficult season due to thigh, hamstring and back problems.

Edwards’s withdrawal follows those of Lewin Nyatanga and Ched Evans due to injury and of four players involved in the Championship play-off final – Ashley Williams, Joe Allen, Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu.

With Coventry’s Freddy Eastwood also doubtful, Speed has called in Norwich midfielder Owain Tudur Jones.

The 26-year-old, who spent the second half of the season on loan at Brentford, could win his first cap for two years having been overlooked in recent times.

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Craig Morgan, Andy Dorman and Jermaine Easter were drafted into the squad last week.

Wales, who lost their opening Nations Cup match to the Republic of Ireland in February, face Scotland on Wednesday and Northern Ireland 48 hours later. Both games are at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Speed has said he intends to rotate his squad.