Robert Green and Matthew Upson have been rewarded for their part in West Ham United's start this season with places in the England squad for the start of 2010 World Cup qualifying.
Green, capped once, and Upson, with eight appearances for his country, were selected in a 23-man pool named by Fabio Capello for the Group 6 matches against Andorra in Barcelona next Saturday evening and then away to Croatia in Zagreb the following Wednesday. Mark Noble is with the Under-21s for their crucial Euro 2009 qualifier at home to Portugal at Wembley on Friday night. A Young Lions draw would make sure of a place in October's play-offs for the final round in Sweden next summer.
Wales manager John Toshack has named Craig Bellamy and James Collins in his squad for their Group 4 qualifiers against Azerbaijan and Russia. Toshack is expected to make a call on the pair's involvement early this week. Jack Collison, who is getting closer to a return from his knee injury, has been selected in the Welsh U21 squad for his side's crucial qualifying match in Romania. Like England, a win would make sure of a play-off spot.
Elsewhere, summer signing Valon Behrami has been called up by Switzerland coach Ottmar Hitzfeld for the qualifying matches in Israel and at home to Luxembourg. The Swiss are in Group 2, which includes Greece, Moldova and Latvia. George McCartney has been included in the Northern Ireland squad with Nigel Worthington's side facing Group 3 qualifiers away to Slovakia on Saturday and at home against Czech Republic on Wednesday.
Further afield, Lucas Neill has been named in the Australian squad for their friendly away to the Netherlands in Eindhoven on Saturday and the subsequent World Cup qualifier in Uzbekistan four days later. The Socceroos began their first qualifying campaign as part of the Asian zone earlier in the summer and have performed impressively to date.
England squad
Goalkeepers: Green, Robinson, James
Defenders: Johnson, Bridge, A Cole, Ferdinand, Terry, Brown, Lescott, Upson
Midfielders: Barry, Lampard, Bullard, Beckham, Jenas, J Cole, Bentley, Downing
Forwards: Walcott, Rooney, Heskey, Defoe