SOME semblance of common sense prevailed yesterday when Sven-Goran Eriksson named the squad he hopes is full of Eastern promise.

Despite intense speculation to the contrary, the England coach decided against including Blackburn striker Matt Jansen in his World Cup party bound for Japan and South Korea.

Quite why Jansen should have been deemed such a serious contender in the first place is something of a mystery.

But the suggestion that he might usurp the place of either Robbie Fowler or Teddy Sheringham was not without foundation.

It was clear that Eriksson, who saw Jansen score when he made a last-minute check on squad candidates in Blackburn's game at Liverpool on Wednesday, was considering the 24-year-old's claims - even though he has never kicked a ball at senior international level.

Had he not unluckily fallen victim to a stomach bug after being called up for last month's friendly with Paraguay at Anfield, Carlisle-born Newcastle fan Jansen - once a target for the Magpies - would have had an opportunity to press his credentials.

But was his case any more compelling than that of Blackburn teammate Andy Cole, who yesterday announced his retirement from the international game, or Sunderland's Kevin Phillips?

Granted, both players repeatedly disappointed in an England shirt.

Phillips' last chance went in Eriksson's eyes when he failed to break his international goal duck at the eighth attempt in February's friendly in Holland.

But he won Europe's Golden Boot with 30 top-flight goals only two seasons ago and has this term netted ten in the Premiership - as many as Jansen - in a struggling side.

Whatever Jansen's claims may have been, Eriksson has wisely elected to take Sheringham and Fowler as cover for first-choice front pair Michael Owen and Emile Heskey.

Darius Vassell still has much to prove, but his two goals in only three England appearances assured his place.

Eriksson has put the onus on youth - half the 24 named yesterday, including stand-by Danny Murphy - are 24 or under.

But the Swede has also placed the accent on defence in naming eight in that department.

On the face of it, his decision to pick 35-year-old Martin Keown - injured for a good part of the season - was a major surprise. But news that the versatile Jamie Carragher needs a knee operation provided an explanation. Danny Mills, whose disciplinary record is diabolical, worryingly appears to be Eriksson's preferred choice at right-back.

With Gary Neville out injured and brother Phil rightly discarded, at least their Manchester United colleague Wes Brown is a viable alternative to Mills.

Given Keown's inclusion, Middlesbrough centre-back Ugo Ehiogu has reason to feel aggrieved that he will not be on the plane with clubmate and defensive partner Gareth Southgate.

In midfield, there are no great shocks, with Newcastle's Kieron Dyer and West Ham's Joe Cole set to vie for the problematic left-sided role, and Murphy on hand if skipper David Beckham suffers a setback in his recovery from his broken metatarsal.

Barring any further mishaps, the side I would send out against Sweden on June 2 is: Seaman; Brown, Southgate, Campbell, Bridge; Beckham, Gerrard, Scholes, Dyer; Owen, Heskey.