ASTON Villa left-back Stephen Warnock is a surprise inclusion in England’s provisional World Cup squad after Fabio Capello announced his initial 30-man party.
Claret and blue striker Emile Heskey and Villa’s man of the moment James Milner have also been called up along with former Birmingham loan keeper Joe Hart.
But there is no place for Villa trio Stewart Downing, Ashley Young and Gabby Agbonlahor who had also harboured hopes of representing the Three Lions in South Africa.
Villa boss Martin O’Neill confirmed that Warnock would be fit enough to take his place in the squad despite limping out of Sunday’s last day defeat to Blackburn with an ankle injury.
Capello will cut the squad down to a final 23 after England complete a training camp in Austria and friendlies against Mexico (Wembley) and Japan (Graz) later this month.