Matthew Upson handed opportunity by Fabio Capello in key Euro qualifiers

Matthew Upson has been handed an opportunity to put his World Cup pain behind him by Fabio Capello after being named in a 24-man squad for the opening European Championship qualifiers against Bulgaria and Switzerland next month.

Upson slumped to No 5 on Capello's list of central defenders in South Africa after the Italian controversially drafted in Jamie Carragher and Ledley King.

He eventually played twice in the dismal campaign but was then axed for last month's victory over Hungary.

However, with John Terry pulling out through injury, Carragher once again retired from England duty and Capello no longer willing to take a chance on King's questionable fitness, Upson once again finds his services are required.

Upson takes his place in a 24-man squad that shows seven new faces from the one that overcame Hungary in a friendly earlier this month thanks to a brace from Steven Gerrard.

Aside from Terry, Frank Lampard and Bobby Zamora have been ruled out through injury, while both Wes Brown and Paul Robinson have retired.

As youngster Jack Wilshere has been relegated back to the Under-21 squad and doubts remain over a number of players, Capello has been forced to make extensive changes.

The faces are all familiar though, including Scott Carson, who last appeared as a substitute in the friendly win over Germany in Berlin two years ago.

The other inclusions are Michael Carrick, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe, who were all in Capello's World Cup squad, plus Manchester City's Joleon Lescott, who missed out through injury.

Lescott has played in all City's Premier League matches so far at left-back, although with Kieran Gibbs named as back-up to Ashley Cole, the former Everton star seems to have been selected as cover in central defence.

Capello will be anxiously awaiting checks on a number of players when his squad meet up at their Watford training base this afternoon.

The fitness of Crouch and Defoe, who has put off a groin operation that had been planned for this week, has been questioned by Harry Redknapp, and Everton's Phil Jagielka suffered a bruised foot in yesterday's Premier League defeat at Aston Villa.

Certainly, the central defensive area must be a concern for Capello.Upson's 21 caps are more than the other options - including Lescott - combined.

Michael Dawson made his debut against Hungary and Gary Cahill, while a squad regular, has yet to appear in a full international.In all, Capello has selected 13 of his World Cup 23 for the first competitive matches of what has been dubbed a new era.

Central defensive concerns apart, Capello should not be blaming inexperience if England fail to collect six points from two games, starting at Wembley on Friday against a Bulgaria team now lacking the retired Dimitar Berbatov, before a trip to Basle the following Tuesday to face a dangerous Swiss team who beat Spain in South Africa.

ENGLAND SQUAD(to play Bulgaria and Switzerland in Euro 2012 qualifiers): Carson, Foster, Hart, Cahill, A Cole, Dawson, Gibbs, Jagielka, G Johnson, Lescott, Upson, Barry, Carrick, Gerrard, Johnson, Milner, Walcott, Wright-Phillips, Young, Bent, C Cole, Crouch, Defoe, Rooney.