Rio Ferdinand, Wayne Rooney and Sol Campbell returned to the England fold as coach Sven-Goran Eriksson named his squad on Sunday for World Cup qualifiers against Wales and Azerbaijan.
Manchester United defender Ferdinand was recalled for the first time since it was revealed 12 months ago that he had failed to attend a drugs test.
Ferdinand, who recently returned to the United team following an eight-month suspension, was joined in the squad by striker Rooney, who last featured in the Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat by Portugal.
Rooney, who suffered a broken foot in that game, scored a magnificent hat-trick on his Manchester United debut in the 6-2 Champions League win over Fenerbahce on Tuesday and is expected to start for England against Wales.
"It would be difficult to keep him out," Eriksson said on the FA's official website. "I saw him on Tuesday and he was fantastic -- scoring three goals on his debut and he hadn't played football since June.
"So it's very difficult to keep him out and why should I keep him out? He should play."
Rooney made a stunning impression during Euro 2004, scoring four goals in the tournament before injuring his foot.
Eriksson was also boosted by the return of Arsenal defender Campbell who missed the early part of the season with an Achilles tendon injury.
Campbell is expected to continue the partnership with Ferdinand that was interrupted by the United defender's ban, although Chelsea's John Terry and Tottenham Hotspur's Ledley King have impressed in their absence.
MAIN TASK
Manchester United's Phil Neville was included along with Real Madrid striker Michael Owen, despite both being starved of first-team football.
Owen is vying with Tottenham Hotspur's Jermain Defoe to partner Rooney in attack. Defoe celebrated his first start with his first England goal in a 2-1 away win over Poland in a World Cup qualifier last month.
Eriksson's main task will be to shuffle his midfield to make up for the loss of the injured Steven Gerrard, with possible replacements being Newcastle United's Nicky Butt, Chelsea's Joe Cole or Manchester City's Sean Wright-Phillips.
"Unfortunately, we have Steven Gerrard out and Steven has always been a very important player to us, but that's life," said Eriksson of his key midfielder who has a foot injury.
"But the squad is strong and it gives me problems. Up front -- who to play and who not to play, and central defenders, suddenly we have four extremely good central defenders, top, top class."
In addition to the 23 players announced, Eriksson has named Chelsea left back Wayne Bridge, who is struggling to overcome a calf injury.
Bridge will have treatment at Chelsea this week before being re-assessed to see if he can join the squad.
England face Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday before travelling for a first meeting with Azerbaijan four days later.
Austria, who have four points from two games, lead Group Six on goal difference from England while Wales are fourth after drawing their opening two games. Poland are third on three points.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: David James (Manchester City), Paul Robinson (Tottenham Hotspur), Robert Green (Norwich City).
Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Ledley King (Tottenham Hotspur), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Gary Neville (Manchester United), Phil Neville (Manchester United), Wayne Bridge (Chelsea)
Midfielders: Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Nicky Butt (Newcastle United), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich, Germany), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle United), David Beckham (Real Madrid, Spain), Sean Wright-Phillips (Manchester City),
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Alan Smith (Manchester United), Michael Owen (Real Madrid, Spain), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham Hotspur), Darius Vassell (Aston Villa).
