BBC SPORT | WORLD CUP 2002 | Jansen wins England call

Blackburn striker Matt Jansen has been handed the chance to stake a late claim for a World Cup spot after being called up by England for Wednesday's friendly against Paraguay.

But there is no place in Sven-Goran Eriksson's 25-man squad for Jansen's club-mate Andy Cole and Real Madrid's Steve McManaman.

His form last season was good and this season he is playing better than ever

Sven-Goran Eriksson
on Matt Jansen

Veteran Arsenal defender Martin Keown also failed to win a recall after injury while Richard Wright, Chris Powell, Darren Anderton, Kevin Phillips, Graeme Le Saux and Lee Bowyer are other notable absentees.

Eriksson told the Football Association's website: "Matt Jansen is doing very well at the moment and deserves his chance at international level.

"His form last season was good and this season he is playing better than ever."

Keown, who has missed the last two England friendlies due to a fractured leg, will also be hard hit by his continued omission now that he has regained fitness.

But the versatile Jamie Carragher has instead won his place back after a domestic ban at the time of the Holland game also appeared to have cost him dearly.

Jamie Carragher
Carragher can play on either flank

"Every time I have seen him play recently, I have been impressed with his performances for Liverpool," said Eriksson.

Eriksson will announce his new stand-in captain on Monday, when he will also contact Paraguay boss Cesare Maldini to ask him to allow up to 11 substitutions in the friendly.

"We have had a negative answer from Paraguay about that so far, they have only agreed to using five or six substitutes," said the England coach.

That situation would hardly endear Eriksson to various club managers.

"I understand the position of the club managers as I used to be one myself," said the Swede.

"But it's a World Cup year and it's important for England that we can prepare as well as possible."

Senior squad: Seaman (Arsenal), Martyn (Leeds), James (West Ham), G Neville (Man Utd), P Neville (Man Utd), Bridge (Soton), Mills (Leeds), Carragher (Liverpool), Southgate (M'boro), Campbell (Arsenal), Ehiogu (M'boro), Scholes (Man Utd), Gerrard (Liverpool), Butt (Man Utd), J Cole (West Ham), Sinclair (West Ham), Lampard (Chelsea), Dyer (Newcastle), Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Murphy (Liverpool), Owen (Liverpool), Fowler (Leeds), Sheringham (Tottenham), Vassell (Aston Villa), Jansen (Blackburn).


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