Burton-on-Trent: Veteran Sunderland striker Jermain Defoe earned a first England call-up in four years yesterday for the forthcoming friendly against Germany and World Cup qualifier against Lithuania.
Defoe, 34, has been drafted in after captain Wayne Rooney, Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge were ruled out by injury.
He won the last of his 55 caps in November 2013, but has continued to score regularly for Sunderland, netting 14 times in the Premier League this season.
"I didn't want to just look at his age and think he's finished with England,"
England manager Gareth Southgate told reporters at the St George's Park football centre in Burton-on-Trent, central England.
"I think you get young players with a point to prove and older players with a point to prove.
Southgate's 26-man squad included first call-ups for Southampton pair Nathan Redmond and James Ward-Prowse, both of whom played under him at under-21 level.
"We are definitely nodding towards the future with some of the decisions we are making," Southgate said.
There was also a surprise return for West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jake Livermore, who won his sole England cap in 2012.
Manchester United trio Phil Jones, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford earned recalls, but there was no place in the squad for Arsenal forward Theo Walcott.
Tottenham left-back Danny Rose, Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson and Leicester City midfielder Danny Drinkwater also missed out through injury.
