Tom Huddlestone and Darren Bent to start for England against Japan

Posted Sunday, May 30, 2010 by theguardian.com

Darren Bent and Tom Huddlestone will get the chance to claim places in England's final 23 for the World Cup after Fabio Capello confirmed they will both start tomorrow's friendly international against Japan.

The England manager needs to cut seven players from his preliminary squad of 30 ahead of the tournament in South Africa and both Bent and Huddlestone are in the group of players fighting for the final few places. Sunderland's striker Bent did not feature in the 3-1 win over Mexico on Monday because of a hamstring injury which hampered his training in the week before the match at Wembley, and Capello opted to start with Peter Crouch, who scored his 21st England goal, with Jermain Defoe coming on in the second half.

Bent scored 24 Premier League goals last season, more than Defoe, Crouch or Emile Heskey, but he has yet to score a senior international goal. The Tottenham midfielder Huddlestone was introduced from the bench against Mexico. With doubts over the fitness of Manchester City's Gareth Barry, Huddlestone would offer an alternative in the holding midfield role.

"I have seen Huddlestone in a lot of games," said Capello. "This year he always played very well as a holding player and I am happy because he is here as he is one of the important English players."

Capello has also confirmed that David James will start his first international since the qualifying victory over the Ukraine at Wembley on 1 April 2009, 10 games ago. Aaron Lennon will also be handed a place in Capello's team to face Japan, possibly on the left wing, where he has spent most of this week in training.

Capello also confirmed the positive reports about Barry's fitness, although the final decision on the Manchester City midfielder will be made after a final medical check on his troublesome ankle due to take place on 1 June. Barry will be taken to South Africa if he is predicted to be fully fit for England's final group matches, even if he cannot start against the USA on 12 June.

"He has improved a lot," said Capello. "He is getting better and better. The doctor says he is really good. But we have to wait until the last check next Tuesday. After that we will decide whether he will be with us in South Africa. If he can train normally following the first game against the United States he will come with us.

"If it is going to be longer he won't be with us in South Africa."