LONDON (AFP) - Striker Wayne Rooney and defenders Rio Ferdinand and Sol Campbell were all recalled into the England squad by coach Sven-Goran Eriksson for forthcoming World Cup qualifiers.
Ferdinand made his long-awaited reappearance after his eight-month suspension for missing a drugs test, while Rooney and Campbell were also recalled after recovering from long-term injuries.
Phil Neville, however, was the other addition to a 23-man squad missing Wayne Bridge, Steven Gerrard and Kieron Dyer through injury, while Matthew Upson was dropped.
England face Wales at Old Trafford on Saturday and are away to Azerbaijan on Wednesday week.
Neville had not been included in either of the previous two England squads this season as he is not playing regularly for United.
However despite having started just one game all season and not even being included on the bench for Sunday's 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough, Eriksson has few other defensive or midfield options.
Bridge was ruled out due to his calf injury, giving Eriksson another headache over his left-sided midfield options.
The England coach revealed: "I spoke with Jose Mourinho and the doctor at Chelsea, as well as Wayne Bridge.
"He will stay with the club for treatment. On Friday, he couldn't even run and it's better he stays at home. If he's going to be fit for either Wales or Azerbaijan then he will join us. Dyer is out as well, which is a pity."
Bridge's fitness will be reassessed on Thursday or Friday to see whether he can make the trip to Azerbaijan, although the initial signs are not encouraging.
That leaves Joe Cole with perhaps his best chance yet of starting a competitive game, although his winner against Liverpool was then tempered by criticism by his own manager of his lack of defensive grit.
Eriksson, whose other option is Owen Hargreaves, is nevertheless relieved to have Ferdinand, Rooney and Campbell all back for such a vital game against Mark Hughes' Welsh side.
If Ferdinand starts in Saturday's game, it will have been 416 days since he last represented his country in the friendly against Croatia on August 20 last year.
Rooney and Campbell, meanwhile, last played for England in the Euro 2004 quarter-final defeat by Portugal on June 24.
Eriksson told Sky Sports' Soccer Sunday show: "Rio is in great form, sharp and focused. You must admire him for that. He took what happened in the right way. He's very fit and worked very hard. He is hungry to play football.
"It was hard for him but he took it well. I'm very happy to have four central defenders like that and, whichever two you choose, you can't fail. All four of them are extremely good."
As for Rooney, he added: "His first half against Fenerbahce was absolutely incredible, especially knowing that he hasn't played football since June 24 in Portugal and had very few sessions with the ball."
Eriksson, meanwhile, warned his side to be on their guard next weekend at Old Trafford.
After all, when the two countries last met 20 years ago, Wales coach Mark Hughes scored the winner in a 1-0 victory for Wales.
Eriksson insisted: "This is more or less a local derby and Wales need to beat England badly. We must understand that.
"I suppose England are the big brothers and you always want to beat the big brothers. We have to be aware of that and I'm sure it will be a difficult game. Hopefully we will win."
England squad:
Goalkeepers: David James (Man City), Paul Robinson (Tottenham), Robert Green (Norwich)
Defenders: John Terry (Chelsea), Rio Ferdinand (Man Utd), Ledley King (Tottenham), Sol Campbell (Arsenal), Ashley Cole (Arsenal), Gary Neville (Man Utd), Phil Neville (Man Utd), Jamie Carragher (Liverpool)
Midfielders: Nicky Butt (Newcastle), Owen Hargreaves (Bayern Munich), Joe Cole (Chelsea), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Jermaine Jenas (Newcastle), David Beckham (Real Madrid), Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City)
Strikers: Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), Alan Smith (Man Utd), Michael Owen (Real Madrid), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Darius Vassell (Aston Villa)