Brown back in England fold

Wes Brown returned to the England squad as Sven-Goran Eriksson launched his World Cup preparations.

Manchester United defender Brown has not played for his country since last summer’s tour to the USA but returns to the squad to face Uruguay in a friendly on Wednesday.

United captain Gary Neville is also back after missing the last five internationals through injury.

Eriksson picked a 23-man squad with few surprises.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher return after injury and Kieran Richardson and Darren Bent step back up to senior level after playing for the under-21 team.

Everton’s Phil Neville and Charlton’s Paul Konchesky drop out of Eriksson’s squad.

Sol Campbell, Ashley Cole, Jonathan Woodgate, Chris Kirkland, Owen Hargreaves, Kieron Dyer, Alan Smith and Michael Owen are all injured.

England squad for friendly against Uruguay at Anfield on Wednesday:

Robinson (Tottenham), Green (Norwich), James (Man City), Young (Charlton), Bridge (Chelsea), Terry (Chelsea), Brown (Man Utd), Ferdinand (Man Utd), King (Tottenham), G Neville (Man Utd), Carragher (Liverpool), Lampard (Chelsea), Beckham (Real Madrid), Gerrard (Liverpool), J Cole (Chelsea), Jenas (Tottenham), Wright-Phillips (Chelsea), Carrick (Tottenham), Richardson (Man Utd), D Bent (Charlton), Rooney (Man Utd), Crouch (Liverpool), Defoe (Tottenham).