Fabio Capello has gone with form in picking his squad for the European Championship double-header against Bulgaria and Wales next month, picking 11 players from the two Manchester clubs sitting at the summit of the Barclays Premier League.
Sportsmail revealed the England manager’s desire to select some of the youngsters currently impressing for Manchester United and he took five members of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side but there would have been a sixth had Danny Welbeck not injured his hamstring after scoring the first of United’s eight goals against Arsenal on Sunday.

But Capello has recruited  19-year-old Phil Jones from Stuart Pearce’s Under 21 squad for the first time along with Tom Cleverley, Chris Smalling, Ashley Young and Wayne Rooney. Jones earns inclusion ahead of Rio Ferdinand, even though the  32-year-old former England captain was on the bench for United on Sunday.

United we stand: Phil Jones has been called into the senior England squad for the first time

From Manchester City too, Capello has taken players shining for their club. Micah Richards appears to be back in favour with the Italian, earning selection in the 25-man party along with Gareth Barry, Joe Hart, Adam Johnson, Joleon Lescott and James Milner.

Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing have been selected from a Liverpool side that has also started the season strongly, while the three regulars from Chelsea — with Frank Lampard among them — will also meet up with the squad in Hertfordshire on Monday ahead of the Group G games in Bulgaria on Friday and against Wales at Wembley the following Tuesday.

The injury to Welbeck probably leaves Carroll and Aston Villa’s Darren Bent vying for the place alongside Rooney, who was outstanding at Old Trafford.

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