England's preliminary squad throws surprises, but otherwise shows lack of depth

England manager Fabio Capello yesterday named his 30-man preliminary squad for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa with few nuggets of surprise, but perhaps showed some frailties with an imbalance, even in naming a squad seven more than the final outcome come 1 June.

Jamie Carragher comes back after the Liverpool servant's three-year long international exile. However, there is only one out-in-out right-back in Glen Johnson, also of Liverpool. Capello has picked Scott Parker and Tom Huddlestone to train with England in their pre-World Cup camp in Austria, and will be eager to prove that they can take over the defensive midfield duties of the injured Gareth Barry. Barry, who has never featured in a major finals, is out for four weeks and is scheduled for return to fitness just days before England's opener against USA on June 12. There is only one genuine defensive midfielder in Michael Carrick, so Capello may have problems in keeping his defensive line watertight.

Ledley King makes his return to England's squad, but lingering doubts over his ability to play 90 minutes within a few days of each other. Tottenham defender and fellow team-mate Michael Dawson is also drafted in. Ashley Cole is back in the England fold after successful recovering from a broken ankle, in time to play Chelsea's last two Premier League games, in the process helping The Blues capture the championship.

Adam Johnson and Joe Cole are also in Capello's plans in the wings. It may well be a smart from the Italian, who is a keen admirer of the two players. That, coupled with the often froghtening pace of Aaron Lennon and The Walcott, England can offer attacking intent come June. The strikers are of your usual, but again increasingly points towards the question in who will partner Wayne Rooney. People often discredit Emile Heskey for his lack of composure in his finishing, and I'll be one of the first to say he isn't a great player, but his sheer work rate, strength and temperament will offer Capello a good outlet when in possession.

Joe Hart also receives a call up in goal, and some will want him to be in goal against USA. He has performed with great class at Birmingham and was probably the key reason why they finished the season comfortably in the top half of the Premier League. Here is the full rundown of the provisional squad:

Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Manchester City), David James (Portsmouth), Robert Green (West Ham).

Defenders: Leighton Baines (Everton), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Michael Dawson (Tottenham), Rio Ferdinand (Manchester United), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Ledley King (Tottenham), John Terry (Chelsea), Matthew Upson (West Ham), Stephen Warnock (Aston Villa).

Midfielders: Gareth Barry (Manchester City), Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Tom Huddlestone (Tottenham), Adam Johnson (Manchester City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Aaron Lennon (Tottenham), James Milner (Aston Villa), Scott Parker (West Ham), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Manchester City).

Forwards: Darren Bent (Sunderland), Peter Crouch (Tottenham), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Emile Heskey (Aston Villa), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United).