Reputations will count for nothing in Fabio Capello's England regime, according to Sir Trevor Brooking.

David Beckham has already been left out of the squad and it is believed Michael Owen will be named only as a substitute for tonight's friendly against Switzerland at Wembley. Owen dropping to the bench would mark a major shift in philosophy from Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson, Capello's predecessors, who were often accused of picking their big-name players, even when they were lacking in form or fitness.

"If you look through the side there are going to be very few automatic choices," Brooking, the FA's director of football development, said. "That means everyone thinks it's up for grabs.

"If you play well then you could force your way into the Capello starting eleven, and that's great, that's what everyone wants. There are going to be very few who can automatically turn up and think 'I'm playing' because he is going to select formations and teams on merit."

Expert View

Gerrard is a conundrum. Where is the international equivalent of his second-half performance against AC Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul?

Martin Samuel

• More

• Post a comment

BACKGROUND

• Owen out of step with Capello's tough regime

• Capello replaces Game Boys with trials by video

• Who will be Captain Marvel?

• In the beginning was the word and the English word was Boss

BACKGROUND

• Reputations count for nothing, says Brooking

• Capello’s men can’t be one of the lads

• Milner sinks Irish as qualification in sight

• The Insider - February 6

Multimedia

• Live from 8pm: England v Switzerland

• You pick the team and the tactics

• Statistics: England managerial debuts

Making several substitutions, as Eriksson was prone to do, is likely to remain a tactic. "I think in the friendlies he will really change it around, he wants to look at people, and generally there is an opportunity for someone who hasn't even played in the team at any stage to get into the Capello team," Brooking added.

The Italian has introduced a raft of new rules and regulations, governing everything from what the players wear to when they can leave the dinner table, something Brooking applauds. "He's trying to plant the seed that this is how we operate, we are in this together and it is not just a case of coming in and out with your iPods on and having a chat amongst yourselves," he said.

"You can see it even in the coaching. He keeps everyone on their toes, they've been very competitive trying to impress, and it's something that you can sense is different and new."

Explore Football

• Premier League

• Football League

• Scotland

• European Football

• International Football

• TheGame

• Live Match Tracker

• The Fink Tank

• Fantasy Football