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England will head into their Euro 2012 showdown with Montenegro without two of their most experienced players after Steven Gerrard and Rio Ferdinand were both left out of Fabio Capello’s squad.

The Three Lions need a draw in Podgorica on Friday to book their place at next summer’s European Championship finals.

And Capello has decided they can achieve that mission without two men who have amassed a combined total of 167 caps.

Gerrard had already said he did not believe he was fit enough to be involved after only just recovering from a groin injury.

However, although Ferdinand was expected to be involved after shaking off the hamstring strain he suffered at West Brom in August and featuring in his side’s last three games, Capello has decided the 32-year-old lacks sufficient match practice.

Jermain Defoe and Joleon Lescott have lost their places, with Bobby Zamora and Scott Carson recalled to a 24-man squad.

Zamora’s only cap came in a friendly against Hungary in August last year, after which he was sidelined after suffering a broken leg the following month.

He did return as a substitute for the June qualifier with Switzerland but did not play.

Now 30, Zamora was bizarrely cited by Capello as one of the young players on which England’s future rested following their woeful World Cup performance.

It does seem he has an international future under the Italian, although the presence of Manchester United’s Danny Welbeck in a five-strong striking line-up that also includes Aston Villa’s Darren Bent provides stiff competition in the quest to partner Wayne Rooney.

As expected, Ashley Young was picked despite being left out of Manchester United’s win over Norwich yesterday with an ankle injury.

Gary Cahill started alongside skipper John Terry for the recent matches against Bulgaria and Wales and the Bolton man retains his place, as does Ferdinand’s blossoming United team-mate Phil Jones, rated by many as a future England skipper.

With Chris Smalling, like Tom Cleverley and Robert Green, ruled out through injury, a vacancy exists at right-back and the recalled Kyle Walker didn’t do his chances of keeping out Micah Richards any harm by lashing home the winner for Tottenham in front of Capello in this afternoon’s north London derby.

Meanwhile, Carson’s presence proves the England coaching team have not forgotten him despite a summer move to former Turkish champions Bursaspor.

Full squad

S Carson (Bursaspor), J Hart (Man City), D Stockdale (Ipswich); L Baines (Everton), G Cahill (Bolton), A Cole (Chelsea), P Jagielka (Everton), P Jones (Man Utd), M Richards (Man City), J Terry (captain, Chelsea), K Walker (Tottenham); G Barry (Man City), S Downing (Liverpool), A Johnson (Man City), F Lampard (Chelsea), J Milner (Man City), S Parker (Tottenham), T Walcott (Arsenal), A Young (Man Utd); D Bent (Aston Villa), A Carroll (Liverpool), W Rooney (Man Utd), D Welbeck (Man Utd), B Zamora (Fulham)