Fabio Capello dealt another huge blow to Michael Owen’s World Cup prospects last night by leaving the forward out of the England squad to face Brazil in Doha, despite injuries to Emile Heskey and Carlton Cole.

Owen had been named in Capello’s pre-selection squad last week, as he has been before every England match since joining Manchester United in the summer, but again he failed to make the final cut. With Heskey and Cole missing through injury, Capello preferred to call up Darren Bent, the Sunderland forward.

Capello insists that the door is not closed on Owen and that the 29-year-old, because of his small stature, is in direct competition with Jermain Defoe rather than with Heskey, Cole, Bent or Peter Crouch, but he remains unconvinced that the forward’s form for United, mostly as a substitute, merits a recall. Had Defoe missed out through injury, it is understood that Gabriel Agbonlahor, of Aston Villa, was next in the queue.

Owen has not played for his country since the friendly match against France in Paris in March 2008, Capello’s second match in charge, and, despite doing his chances some good by accepting, along with several other players, an invitation to attend the final World Cup qualifying match against Belarus at Wembley last month, the forward’s World Cup hopes are disappearing.

Stephen Warnock, the Villa full back, was recalled and, with Ashley Cole ruled out by injury and Wayne Bridge in poor form of late for Manchester City, may win his second cap in the match. Tom Huddlestone, the uncapped Tottenham Hotspur midfield player, has also been called up for the first time since the end-ofseason friendly matches against United States and Trinidad & Tobago 18 months ago. David James, Rio Ferdinand and Aaron Lennon are missing because of injury.

The other big decision for Capello was whether to select Steven Gerrard. After extensive consultation with Rafael Benítez, the Liverpool manager, and between the respective medical staffs, the Italian concluded that Gerrard would benefit from a period of rest, although he may play in Liverpool’s match against Birmingham City at Anfield this evening.

David Beckham has been named in a 24-man squad, but the 34-year-old midfield player was preparing to drop out last night if his club, the Los Angeles Galaxy, beat Chivas USA to maintain their interest in the MLS Cup.

England squad to play Brazil in a friendly international in Doha on November 14: Goalkeepers: Foster (Manchester United), Green (West Ham), Hart (Manchester City); Defenders: Bridge (Manchester City), Brown (Manchester United), Cahill (Bolton), Johnson (Liverpool), Lescott (Manchester City), Terry (Chelsea), Upson (West Ham), Warnock (Aston Villa); Midfielders: Barry (Manchester City), Beckham (Los Angeles Galaxy), Carrick (Manchester United), Huddlestone, Jenas (both Tottenham), Lampard (Chelsea), Milner (Aston Villa), Wright-Phillips (Manchester City), Young (Aston Villa); Forwards: Bent (Sunderland), Crouch, Defoe (both Tottenham), Rooney (Manchester United).