EMILE PICK HITS CROUCH

EMILE HESKEY has earned a shock England recall after Fabio Capello unceremoniously dumped Peter Crouch.

Crouch left Liverpool in search of a permanent starting role at Portsmouth in the belief it would cement his place in Capello's squad.

But in a huge blow for Crouch, the England boss has opted for Wigan striker Heskey in his first squad of the season to face the Czech Republic at Wembley on Wednesday.

Capello was at Upton Park yesterday to watch Heskey in action and see Dean Ashton ruled out with a hamstring injury, hobbling off after 73 minutes.

Capello said: "It is an important game because I hope to get the answers from the players that I want.

"I hope to get what I expect. I have to check on the form before the qualifiers but experimenting is finished.

"I know the players very well now. When I started working with the players they were a bit scared and afraid. After, a lot of players played better.

"It's not fear about me but it was soon after not qualifying and for the players it was like an examination or test. It is not so.

"I think they know me, what I ask of them, about my style, the movement around the pitch.

"The first and second games were different teams and it was hard enough. I think they know better now because at the end of the season we had 10 days together."

Withdrawals

Capello has named 23 players in total, including Steven Gerrard, who has been struggling with injury until this week.

But with 13 in action today, there is a chance the Italian will suffer some withdrawals.

Goalkeeper Paul Robinson will be delighted his move to Blackburn has seen him return to the international fold.

Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate are also included as Capello looks at his defensive options.

As expected, David Beckham will make the trip from Los Angeles before flying on to Beijing to take part in the closing ceremony of the Olympics.

But the final choice of Capello's captain for the World Cup qualifiers seems to be between John Terry and Rio Ferdinand.

SQUAD: James, Robinson, Hart, Bridge, A Cole, Terry, Brown, Ferdinand, Johnson, Woodgate, Upson, Walcott, Barry, J Cole, Lampard, Beckham, Gerrard, Carrick, Downing, Bentley, Rooney, Defoe, Heskey.