MANCHESTER, England (AFP) - England will hand Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster his international debut in Wednesday´s friendly against Spain at Old Trafford.

Head coach Steve McClaren has also recalled long-term absentees Jonathan Woodgate and Kieron Dyer to a starting line-up that will be missing Wayne Rooney.

The Manchester United star trained with the England squad on Tuesday morning but after assessment by the national team´s medical staff, it was decided he should not risk aggravating a slight back strain and be returned to his club.

McClaren insisted his decision to blood 23-year-old Foster, who is at Watford on loan from Manchester United, was nothing to do with the mixed recent form of Tottenham´s Paul Robinson, England´s number one since he displaced David James in September 2004.

But the move will inevitably be seen as reflecting growing concern over Robinson´s reliability.

The Spurs keeper has been partially or entirely at fault on the last four goals England have conceded, including both scored by Croatia in a 2-0 victory in Zagreb in October which has left McClaren´s squad third in their Euro 2008 qualifying group ahead of a difficult trip to Israel next month.

In Rooney´s absence, lanky Liverpool striker Peter Crouch will lead the England forward line with Shaun Wright-Phillips and Dyer patrolling the flanks in a 4-3-3 line-up similar to the one deployed in a 1-1 draw with Holland in Amsterdam in November.

With Chelsea left-backs Ashley Cole and Wayne Bridge both ruled out through injury, Phil Neville will start on the left of the back four, McClaren having declined the option of starting Aston Villa´s Gareth Barry, one of the few naturally left-sided players available to him.

England team v Spain

Ben Foster; Gary Neville, Rio Ferdinand, Jonathan Woodgate, Phil Neville; Michael Carrick, Steven Gerrard (capt), Frank Lampard, Shaun Wright-Phillips; Peter Crouch, Kieron Dyer