Jermain Defoe has been called up to the England squad for Wednesday's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley after injury robbed Gabriel Agbonlahor of a place in Fabio Capello's line-up.
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Agbonlahor, 21, injured a hamstring in his side's 2-1 Premier League defeat at Fulham yesterday and was immediately ruled out of contention for the international.
However, his withdrawal has opened up a place for Defoe, who marked his transfer deadline-day move from Tottenham to Portsmouth with a debut goal in the weekend's 1-1 draw against Chelsea.
It is understood Capello has informed Defoe that because he has moved clubs, and is now a first-choice striker, it puts him back into the reckoning for international consideration.
Defoe had not been in Capello's initial 30-man provisional squad announced last week. But he was a Tottenham player at the time, and a change of club has pushed him up the pecking order in Capello's mind, although he would also have been aided by the loss of Emile Heskey to injury on Saturday.
A Football Association spokesman confirmed the change to the squad following the disappointing news for Agbonlahor, who had been in line to make his England debut.
The spokesman said: "Following his injury, Gabriel Agbonlahor has withdrawn from the England squad and will not be required to report. Jermain Defoe has been called up."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill said it was a huge blow for the player.
"He was fouled just before half-time and felt his hamstring. It is quite sore at the moment, and he went out just after the break to try to run it off and felt it so we didn't take any chances," he said.
"Of course he is disappointed. It was boost for him to be called up and had been thoroughly deserved.
"I'd still like him to join up with the England squad if our and their medical departments agree. That would be nice for him, but there's no way he can play."
Steven Gerrard is the leading candidate to be Capello's first captain, but the England manager will wait until tomorrow before announcing his choice.
With John Terry injured, Gerrard is the obvious choice, but Capello insists whoever is captain will not be given the job permanently.
That way, Capello gives himself plenty of room for manoeuvre before deciding who is to be his skipper in the long-term.
Rio Ferdinand and Michael Owen are the only other realistic choices, but Gerrard must be odds-on to lead the England side out at Wembley.
Capello said: "I plan to name a captain for the Switzerland game on Tuesday, but I don't expect to appoint a permanent captain until we start the qualifying games.
"I want to work closely with the players before deciding on this."
