However, given Venables' adoption of a flexible back-three, he may feel he will be passed over anyway.Adams, who played the full 90 minutes last night in Paul Merson's testimonial, believes he has recovered from a cartilage operation in mid-January, though he will have to wait to see if he feels a reaction from the match to be sure If fit, he will almost certainly play against Hungary. At Wembley, he will be facing another player with something to prove: Pallister. It is little more than a fortnight since he underwent a groin operation. While it would be stretching a point to say England have missed his goals - he has not scored at international level for 20 months - Venables will be glad of his presence.His return means that Stan Collymore drops to the list of stand-by players - which should give him an added incentive if any were needed - in Saturday's FA Cup final.

Significantly, his return is at the expense of Trevor Sinclair rather than Jason Wilcox, another uncapped player but one who prefers the left flank.As for Shearer, he must have a constitution to match his eye for goal. Anderton has played barely a handful of matches for Tottenham this season, but he may have regained his fitness just in time England have missed his goals and his imagination. Terry Venables, anxious to give his clutch of crocked centre-halves as much time to prove their fitness as possible, yesterday committed himself only to picking a squad for next Saturday's Wembley friendly with Hungary, not the subsequent Far Eastern tour. The 26-man party, which must be trimmed to the championship 22 by the end of the month, includes two of the recently injured, Tony Adams and Gareth Southgate, but omits two others, Gary Pallister and Steve Howey.Encouragingly for Venables, it also includes Darren Anderton, his first and most successful England discovery, and Alan Shearer. England's European Championship hopefuls will arrive at Bisham Abbey next week carrying their hopes and fears but not, as yet, their passports.