He won the last of his 34 caps against Brazil in May 2007, but was already harbouring serious doubts over his future, having been consistently overlooked, first by Sven Goran Eriksson, then Steve McClaren.

Although Carragher has repeatedly claimed he has no regrets about the decision, Capello never gave up hope that the 32-year-old would change his mind in an emergency.

And, with Joleon Lescott and Wes Brown major doubts after missing the back end of the season through injury, Rio Ferdinand only just recovered from a groin problem and Ledley King unable to train due to chronic knee trouble, that emergency has arrived.

A number of national newspapers today claimed that Capello, who is due to name his 30-man provisional squad on Tuesday, is set to include Carragher. It is also believed King could be named in the squad.

Two training camps in Austria and friendlies against Mexico and Japan offer the perfect chance to see how both men fit in to the Italian's planning.

The final 23-man squad is announced on June 1, although crucially, replacements required due to injury would not have to come from the seven men culled from the original party.