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Jimmy Bullard may have to convince Roy Hodgson of his value, but Fabio Capello obviously needs no persuading. The England manager surprised twice when he announced the 23-man party to face Andorra and Croatia by omitting Michael Owen and selecting Bullard, who wins his first international call-up at the age of 29. So the squad to face a familiar foe contains a very unfamiliar face.

Capello had said before announcing the squad that “no one is untouchable” in terms of guaranteeing places in the side. While that was an indicator that he is not in thrall to reputation, status or experience, few predicted that he would touch the Fulham man.

Although admired as a committed and enthusiastic midfield player, Bullard has not been trailed as prospective England material since he suffered a serious injury almost two years ago.

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Little more than five years ago, he was at Peterborough United, having failed to make the grade at West Ham United, whom he joined from Gravesend and Northfleet. But he blossomed after a £275,000 move to Wigan Athletic and proved that he could more than hold his own as a top-flight player. A lively character off the field, he moved to Craven Cottage in 2006, but damaged his cruciate ligament that September, which kept him out for 15 months.

Known for his long-range shooting, he scored an excellent goal against Leicester City in the Carling Cup last week, but Hodgson, the Fulham manager, signed Dickson Etuhu from Sunderland on Friday and he may compete with the Londoner for playing time.

Bullard steps into the limelight because Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves are absent because of injury, although it appears farfetched that Capello would start him in central midfield ahead of Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry.

Jonathan Woodgate was left out despite an impressive performance for Tottenham Hotspur against Chelsea yesterday, losing his place to Joleon Lescott, of Everton. Matthew Upson, the West Ham centre back, keeps his spot.

Robert Green, the West Ham United goalkeeper, who claimed last week that his “face just doesn’t fit” with England, finds that Capello was looking at him after all. He is added in place of Chris Kirkland or Joe Hart, who is with England Under21, as third-choice goalkeeper behind David James and Paul Robinson.

Despite widespread criticism of England’s display in the deeply unconvincing 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic at Wembley on August 20, Capello has not made many changes, and David Beckham is retained.

Owen made his first full appearance of the season for Newcastle United against Arsenal on Saturday, but did not do enough to convince Capello, who had hinted in midweek that he was not fit enough to be considered. With Peter Crouch, the Portsmouth striker, left out and Darren Bent unable to force his way in despite finding the net at Stamford Bridge yesterday, the four-man strike force is the same as against the Czechs: Theo Walcott, Wayne Rooney, Jermain Defoe and Emile Heskey.

The latter two impressed for their clubs on Saturday, with Heskey evidently preferred to Crouch as a tall option off the bench. Micah Richards, the Manchester City defender, was ruled out because of injury, so Glen Johnson provides cover at right back for Wes Brown.

England play Andorra in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium on Saturday night in their first meaningful match under Capello, with their second World Cup qualifier a week on Wednesday: the all-important trip to Zagreb to face their nemesis from the failed Euro 2008 campaign.

England squad

P Robinson (Blackburn Rovers), D James (Portsmouth), R Green (West Ham United); J Lescott (Everton), W Bridge (Chelsea), A Cole (Chelsea), J Terry (Chelsea), W Brown (Manchester United), R Ferdinand (Manchester United), G Johnson (Portsmouth), M Upson (West Ham United); G Barry (Aston Villa), J Cole (Chelsea), F Lampard (Chelsea), J Bullard (Fulham), D Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), S Downing (Middlesbrough), D Bentley (Tottenham Hotspur), J Jenas (Tottenham Hotspur); T Walcott (Arsenal), W Rooney (Manchester United), J Defoe (Portsmouth), E Heskey (Wigan Athletic).