
With a host of injury problems facing Steve McClaren the England boss has decided to add Wigan striker Emile Heskey to his latest squad.
Heskey will be involved in the upcoming Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia and will hope to add to the 43 England caps he holds to date.
Despite their precarious position in Group E - England are currently fourth three points behind table-toppers Croatia and Israel - McClaren's men are still seen as one of the favourites to qualify.
The Latics hitman last played for the national side at Euro 2004 when it was widely predicted that he had won the last of his 43 caps.
However, after McClaren watched the 29-year-old in action at Newcastle on Saturday he was so impressed that he immediately contacted Wigan manager Chris Hutchings to request his release.
"Emile is a player with a lot of international experience and has played many times with Michael Owen in the past," said McClaren.
"He has been in good form for Wigan this season. He played very well against Sunderland recently and I saw him play well against Newcastle on Saturday.
"While he has been out of the squad for a few years, I have spoken with (Wigan boss) Chris Hutchings, who has been hugely impressed with him, and I think he deserves to be recalled. We need his experience at this time."
Heskey will now hope to get on and deliver a telling blow for England in their bid to qualify for next summer's showpiece in Austria and Switzerland.