JAMIE CARRAGHER and Leighton Baines were celebrating today after they were named in Fabio Capello's provisional 30-man squad for the World Cup finals.
It completes a remarkable turnaround in the Liverpool vice-captain's career, who had retired from England duty in the summer of 2007 after becoming frustrated by a lack of opportunities.
Carragher's advisors were contacted by Franco Baldini recently and after the situation was explained to him, he was receptive about reversing his decision.
For Baines, meanwhile, it confirms his status as the second best left-back in England and inclusion in the squad is a reward for his outstanding form for Everton. He made his England debut in the 3-1 win over Egypt at Wembley in March.
As expected, Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and Reds' right-back Glen Johnson were both included but there was agony for Phil Jagielka, who figured in Capello's initial 45-man group that has now been whittled down.
England will go to a training camp in Austria next week before completing their World Cup preparations with friendlies against Mexico, at Wembley) on May 24 and Japan in Austria six days later.
There are no real surprises in the squad except, perhaps, for the omission of Manchester United's Owen Hargreaves who, despite only playing one minute of senior football since October 2008, had been heavily touted for inclusion.
