Bullard's spirit wins shock call from Fabio

However, anyone who has seen Bullard rise from obscurity at Gravesend & Northfleet would have no doubt about his determination and dedication, even if his major claim to fame in his career so far is the role he played in Wigan's rise from League One to the Premier League.

After being told he had been selected by Capello, Bullard said: "I'm absolutely over the moon. I'm so excited but I just want to go and meet up with the guys now and do whatever the manager asks of me."

Bullard's joy will contrast sharply with the dejection of Michael Owen, who has been left out despite making his first full appearance of the season for Newcastle at Arsenal.

With Capello in attendance at the Emirates Stadium, it was felt Owen would be part of the Italian's 23-man squad, particularly as he has scored match-winners against Bolton and Coventry in the past week.

Instead, Capello has stuck with the four strikers from the squad that drew against the Czech Republic at Wembley on 20 August.

Whether Capello can afford to be without Owen, one of only four players to score 40 goals for England, is a debatable point, if not for the meeting with Andorra in Barcelona on Saturday, then certainly for the crunch clash against Croatia in Zagreb four days later.

Once again, Peter Crouch has been left out despite scoring for Portsmouth at Everton, although the performance of another Pompey man, Jermain Defoe, suggests he will be the man asked to partner Wayne Rooney at the Olympic Stadium at Montjuic next weekend.

Capello will be hoping to avoid the kind of abuse Steve McClaren endured at the same venue 18 months ago, when Gerrard's double and a late David Nugent effort staved off total humiliation against the part-timers after a goalless first-half. With Manchester City's Joe Hart returning to England Under-21 duty and Jonathan Woodgate injured, West Ham's Robert Green and Everton's Joleon Lescott have been recalled, while Glen Johnson will provide cover for Wes Brown at right-back.

England squad: Robinson (Blackburn), James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham); Lescott (Everton), Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Manchester United), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Upson (West Ham); Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), Lampard (Chelsea), Bullard (Fulham), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Downing (Middlesbrough), Bentley (Tottenham), Jenas (Tottenham); Walcott (Arsenal), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth), Heskey (Wigan).