Carroll set for England call-up

Newcastle striker Andy Carroll is poised for an England senior call by Fabio Capello on Monday after being left out of the Under-21 squad for the European Championship play-off.

Capello is ready to turn to Carroll in the expected absences of Jermain Defoe and Bobby Zamora, and doubts over Wayne Rooney.

While the England boss has not given up on Rooney, he is expected to take sounding from Sir Alex Ferguson before finalising his squad and fears being left with only Darren Bent and Peter Crouch as fit, available and in-form striker options.

Capello's choices have been further restricted with Emile Heskey now retired internationally, Gabriel Agbonlahor not match-sharp and Carlton Cole struggling to get a start for West Ham.

Carroll, 21, has impressed on the Tynesiders' return to the stop flight and would have expected the call from Stuart Pearce for the first leg of the play-off with Romania to be played at Carrow Road on Friday.

Instead he was omitted - unlike Arsenal's Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs - in what England insiders suggested was a signal that the striker would earn a first senior call for the Euro 2012 game with Montenegro.

Capello, who will await the weekend action before confirming his squad, is keen for Gibbs and Wilshere to play for the Under-21 side - and give Pearce's men a better chance of progressing to next summer's Finals so they can collect tournament experience - rather than contest a place on the bench at Wembley.

The lack of strikers, however, suggests Caroll will be on the bench if named on Monday, with a serious chance of earning his first cap.

Capello, definitely without Michael Dawson and Frank Lampard, was boosted by the midweek returns to action of Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick.