Smith returns from England wilderness

Leeds striker Alan Smith has earned his first England call-up for 13 months after Sven-Goran Eriksson’s decision to allow Darius Vassell to play in a mid-week friendly for Aston Villa backfired.

Eriksson had been left with only Emile Heskey and Wayne Rooney as his fit strikers for Sunday’s international with Denmark at Old Trafford.

Smith has not featured in an England squad since he was sent off in the Euro 2004 qualifier with Macedonia at St Mary’s in October 2002 for two bookable offences.

His only involvement since that red card was as part of the two day training get-together at Aylesbury United last November.

Eriksson had been mindful of the fact that Vassell was lacking in confidence after failing to score in the Premiership this season and permitted him to turn out against Al Nasr in Dubai after being contacted by Villa manager David O’Leary.

It was a risk given the shortage of forward power at Eriksson’s disposal, although the move initially looked to have paid handsome dividends as Vassell was on target four times for his club in a 5-2 win.

But any positives in that direction soon dissolved when news filtered through that the 23-year-old had suffered a knee injury.