Steven Gerrard will join the small and exclusive band of footballers to have won 100 England caps when Roy Hodgson takes his side to Stockholm next week for a friendly that could also resurrect Jack Wilshere's international career.

Hodgson's initial plans to field a youthful, experimental side have had to be balanced by his desire not to be seen as underplaying the significance of the occasion, namely the opening of Sweden's new national stadium, the 50,100-capacity Friends Arena on the outskirts of Stockholm.

With that in mind, Hodgson has decided to include Gerrard and some of the other senior players, Wayne Rooney among them, while also involving several younger ones when he names his squad on Thursday.

Gerrard will therefore become only the sixth England player to reach 100 caps, joining Peter Shilton (125), David Beckham (115), Bobby Moore (108), Bobby Charlton (106) and Billy Wright (105) on the list 12 years after making his debut at the age of 20. Ashley Cole is also on 99 caps but his inclusion is doubtful, not least because the Chelsea left-back is still troubled by a recurrent ankle problem.

Hodgson may also use the opportunity to bring in the talented Liverpool attacker Raheem Sterling as he tries to convince the uncapped 17-year-old to play for England rather than selecting Jamaica.

As for Wilshere, Arsenal are understood to have relaxed their position about his potential involvement now that the midfielder's sending-off at Manchester United last weekend means he is suspended for Saturday's game at home to Fulham. Arsène Wenger had previously said he would ask the England manager if Wilshere could "skip" the match rather than risk overexerting the player after 17 months out with an ankle injury. The revised feeling is that he could do with the match practice, meaning Hodgson may find some of the opposition that previously existed is no longer there.

"It's up to the England manager and I'm sure he will speak to the boss here and they'll decide to do what's best for me," Wilshere said. "If they want me to play then I'll play. But if they decide it's best to rest then I'll rest. It's down to the powers above me and I'm sure they'll make the right decision. It's a dream to play for England so if I'm selected then I'd look forward to playing."

The Football Association is close to finalising arrangements for two more friendlies for next year, with France among the possible opponents being considered on the week-long visit to Brazil at the start of June. England will definitely face the home country but have a couple of other options for the second friendly on a trip that has been arranged to give Hodgson's players a chance to experience the climate ahead of the 2014 World Cup, qualifying for which finishes later in 2013.

Stuart Pearce's squad for the Under-21s' friendly between England and Northern Ireland, to be staged at Bloomfield Road on Tuesday, will also be named on Thursday.