Matthew Upson has been rewarded for his tremendous form with a call-up for the England squad to face Czech Republic on Wednesday at Wembley.
The West Ham United defender helped the club to a 2-1 opening day win against Wigan Athletic on Saturday, with England manager Fabio Capello watching on from the stands. Upson was imperious at the back in a tricky encounter at the Boleyn Ground.
The midweek international will be the final Three Lions friendly before 2010 World Cup qualifying begins away to Andorra in Barcelona on 6 September. That will be followed four days later by a trip to Croatia. Upson has eight caps and played under Capello in last February's 2-1 win against Switzerland.
There was no place for the impressive Robert Green or two-goal hero Dean Ashton, who had to come off on Saturday with a calf problem that he hoped was a severe cramp. Despite injury keeping him out, the striker was in upbeat mood. "I was really pleased with my goals today and to get them so early on in the first game of the season is really nice. I am really pleased they are the goals that won the game for us," said Ashton, who will have a scan on Sunday or Monday to assess his condition.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Hart, James, Robinson
Defenders: Bridge, A Cole, Ferdinand, Upson, Johnson, Terry, Brown, Woodgate
Midfielders: Barry, Lampard, Gerrard, Beckham, Carrick, J Cole, Bentley, Downing
Strikers: Walcott, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe