JONATHAN Woodgate is unlikely to play for England again this season after he was omitted from the England B squad for the friendly against Albania on May 25.

The Middlesbrough centre-half was a notable omission from the 20-man squad named by Steve McClaren yesterday, and his absence means he is extremely unlikely to feature in next month's high-profile friendly with Brazil or the crucial European Championships qualifier in Estonia.

With no Liverpool, Chelsea or Manchester United players - other than striker Alan Smith and on-loan goalkeeper Ben Foster - considered for this month's B game at Burnley's Turf Moor, Woodgate had been expected to press his claims for a place in the senior squad.

The former Real Madrid defender made his first international appearance for almost three years in February's 1-0 defeat to Spain and, while he was at fault for Andres Iniesta's second-half winner, McClaren professed to be pleased with his all-round display.

But while the uncapped Michael Dawson, Joleon Lescott and Nicky Shorey are set to be involved in this month's shadow-squad game, Woodgate will not be appearing against Albania.

His team-mate Stewart Downing has been named in the squad, along with Kieron Dyer, Scott Parker and Michael Owen of Newcastle United.

Owen's involvement will hog the headlines at Turf Moor, with the injury-plagued striker set to make his first international appearance since rupturing his cruciate ligaments in last summer's World Cup group game with Sweden.

The 27-year-old, who is due to make his third senior appearance of the season when Newcastle travel to Watford on Sunday, has been at the heart of a compensation row that saw Magpies chairman Freddy Shepherd threaten to seek an injunction that would have prevented him from appearing in Tallinn.

That now seems an unlikely prospect and, with Wayne Rooney suspended for the Estonia game and Andy Johnson nursing an injury, McClaren will be desperate to see Owen prove his sharpness against weak Albanian opposition.

"Michael Owen's return from injury is obviously a massive boost," said McClaren. "It's almost a year since he picked up the injury in Germany and any side at international level would miss a player with Michael's goalscoring pedigree.

"I'm excited at the prospect of being able to pick a fit Michael Owen for the England team and this game will be great preparation for the games with Brazil and Estonia.

"I know the rest of the squad will be delighted to have Michael back as he is a proven top-class international goalscorer.

"He's done well to get back to fitness with Newcastle and I'm sure the crowd will be excited about seeing him back in an England shirt at Burnley."

Smith's inclusion ends a lengthy international absence of his own - the Manchester United striker has only played 12 games since recovering from an horrific leg injury - and the striking cover will be provided by Tottenham's Jermain Defoe and Preston's David Nugent.

While Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton have missed out on a midfield place in the squad, Blackburn's David Bentley and Sheffield United's Phil Jagielka have been selected.

Meanwhile, Newcastle duo Steven Taylor and James Milner and Middlesbrough midfielder Lee Cattermole have been named in the England Under-21 squad for this summer's European Championships in Holland.