The prospect of Andy Carroll, the Newcastle forward, being given his first senior England call came closer on Thursday when he was left out of the U21 squad for next week's friendly against Germany.

Carroll should not take a call-up for granted, however, having also been left out of the U21 squad for the European Championship play-off against Romania then not being included in the senior squad.

Stuart Pearce, the U21 coach, was unhappy with the striker's withdrawal from the squads to face Portugal and Lithuania.

The Football Association have briefed the media this week saying Capello was being considered by the Three Lions senior coach Fabio Capello, despite being charged with assaulting a woman last month and newspaper allegations of a boozy party with club captain Kevin Nolan.

Jack Wilshere, the Arsenal midfielder, was also left out of the U21 squad and looks certain to be in the senior squad who will take on France at Wembley on Wednesday evening.

There are three new faces in Pearce's squad: the Chelsea midfielder Josh McEachran, 17, Swansea forward Scott Sinclair, 21, and Manchester City defender Ben Mee.

U21 squad: Frank Fielding (Blackburn), Jason Steele (Middlesbrough); Ryan Bertrand (Chelsea), Martin Kelly (Liverpool), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Micah Richards (Man City), Chris Smalling (Man Utd), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Ben Mee (Man City); Marc Albrighton (Aston Villa), Tom Cleverley (Man Utd), Jack Cork (Chelsea), Henri Lansbury (Arsenal), Josh McEachran (Chelsea), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton), Jack Rodwell (Everton), Danny Rose (Tottenham); Nathan Delfouneso (Aston Villa), Scott Sinclair (Swansea), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd).