Soccer: Powell handed England debut

Charlton defender Chris Powell will make the incredible transformation from Premiership journeyman to England debutant at Villa Park.

Powell has been named in Sven-Goran Eriksson's first match in charge of the national side.

The 31-year-old features at left back in tonight's friendly against Spain in a back four also containing Phil Neville, Sol Campbell and Rio Ferdinand.

The strike force for the Villa Park friendly had been expected to feature Teddy Sheringham dropping off a lone forward. However the Manchester United man does not make Eriksson's starting line-up.

Instead, the Swede has sprung a surprise by naming Michael Owen alongside Andy Cole.

Three of Cole's Manchester United team-mates will form the midfield - captain David Beckham, Paul Scholes, after his recovery from a stomach bug, and Nicky Butt.

Liverpool midfielder Nick Barmby was the fourth member of the central quartet, probably in a left-sided role.

Eriksson also has the option of playing a midfield trio with Scholes pushed further forward.

In goal David James keeps his place at his home stadium Villa Park, although David Seaman could appear as a substitute.

Eriksson was likely to use up his full allocation of seven substitutes, with a number of those changes expected at half-time.