Cole returns to England squad

Ashley Cole is in line for his 100th cap after being recalled to the England squad for the friendly match against Brazil on February 6.

The Chelsea left-back missed the 4-2 defeat to Sweden because of injury but manager Roy Hodgson has given him the chance to mark the milestone at Wembley.

The 24-man group also sees Everton’s Leon Osman retain his place in the Three Lions squad for the first game of 2013 while youngsters Jonjo Shelvey, Raheem Sterling and Wilfried Zaha are expected to drop down to the under-21s.

Chris Smalling also returns to the England fold after almost a year out of contention following an injury-plagued spell for Manchester United, while Hodgson names just two goalkeepers in Joe Hart and Jack Butland with Fraser Forster and John Ruddy sidelined with injury.

The Wembley fixture is one of a series of fixtures to help mark the Football Association’s 150-year anniversary and will act as a warm-up for the World Cup qualifiers in March against San Marino and Montenegro.

The squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Joe Hart.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Glen Johnson, Joleon Lescott, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, Aaron Lennon, James Milner, Leon Osman, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere.
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck.