LEIGHTON BAINES will discover today if he has taken a step nearer the World Cup – as Fabio Capello prepared to confirm Jamie Carragher’s remarkable international return.

The England coach will this afternoon name his 30-man provisional squad for the two friendlies before the national team heads out to South Africa next month.

Capello’s side entertain Mexico at Wembley on May 24 and then travel to Graz in Austria to take on Japan on May 30 ahead of the squad being reduced to the final 23-man travelling party two days later.

With Wayne Bridge refusing to backtrack on his decision to retire from England duty, Baines is widely expected to be included as understudy to fit-again first-choice left-back Ashley Cole.

And the Everton defender said: “I am looking forward to finding out the squad more than anything.

“Over the last few weeks you know the decision is approaching and you do start to think about it more. Hopefully soon we will find out one way or the other.

“My summer is on hold until I find out.

“We have left the summer open but soon we’ll find out the squad so either way I will be heading to South Africa with England or I will get to go on holiday with my family. Either of those options is nice for me.”

Baines made his international debut in March after Chelsea’s Cole suffered a fractured ankle playing at Goodison in February.