England manager Fabio Capello has left Michael Owen out of his 23-man squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan and Belarus.
Owen was not included in the squad for September's wins over Andorra and Croatia following injury and illness.
But the 28-year-old has played in all of Newcastle's six games since then and scoring five goals this season.
Joe Cole is out with a foot injury but Steven Gerrard returns and Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips earn recalls.
Jimmy Bullard and David Bentley make way for Gerrard and Wright-Phillips, who have been in fine form for Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.
Scott Carson replaces the injured Paul Robinson as Capello's third-choice goalkeeper, while David Beckham retains his place and Wayne Rooney has proved his fitness after an ankle injury.
Theo Walcott and Emile Heskey, both of whom impressed against Andorra and Croatia, retain their places.
Following two victories from their opening two qualifiers, England play Kazakhstan at 1715 BST on Saturday in front of what is expected to big a record international crowd at the new Wembley.
Capello's men then face Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday at 1930 BST.
Owen's omission will raise questions about his international future under the Italian manager.
The striker's only appearance during Capello's reign came as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat by France in March.
England squad: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom); Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).
Owen was not included in the squad for September's wins over Andorra and Croatia following injury and illness.
But the 28-year-old has played in all of Newcastle's six games since then and scoring five goals this season.
Joe Cole is out with a foot injury but Steven Gerrard returns and Peter Crouch and Shaun Wright-Phillips earn recalls.
Jimmy Bullard and David Bentley make way for Gerrard and Wright-Phillips, who have been in fine form for Liverpool and Manchester City respectively.
Scott Carson replaces the injured Paul Robinson as Capello's third-choice goalkeeper, while David Beckham retains his place and Wayne Rooney has proved his fitness after an ankle injury.
Theo Walcott and Emile Heskey, both of whom impressed against Andorra and Croatia, retain their places.
Following two victories from their opening two qualifiers, England play Kazakhstan at 1715 BST on Saturday in front of what is expected to big a record international crowd at the new Wembley.
Capello's men then face Belarus in Minsk on Wednesday at 1930 BST.
Owen's omission will raise questions about his international future under the Italian manager.
The striker's only appearance during Capello's reign came as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat by France in March.
England squad: James (Portsmouth), Green (West Ham), Carson (West Brom); Brown (Manchester United), Johnson (Portsmouth), Terry (Chelsea), Ferdinand (Manchester United), Lescott (Everton), Upson (West Ham), A Cole (Chelsea), Bridge (Chelsea); Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Walcott (Arsenal), Barry (Aston Villa), Jenas (Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Gerrard (Liverpool), Downing (Middlesbrough), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City); Heskey (Wigan), Crouch (Portsmouth), Rooney (Manchester United), Defoe (Portsmouth).
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