Birmingham striker Cameron Jerome has been called into the England Under-21 squad to face Italy at the new Wembley Stadium on Saturday. The 20-year-old replaces Preston's David Nugent, who has been promoted to the senior squad.
In defence, Middlesbrough's Andrew Taylor and Newcastle's Steve Taylor will miss the game because of toe and calf injuries respectively.
Aston Villa defender Liam Ridgewell has been included as cover.
Theo Walcott was omitted from the squad because he requires shoulder surgery.
England will be coached by Nigel Pearson as Stuart Pearce sits out the game as part of the agreement with his club Manchester City which saw him take over as temporary head coach.
Previous manager Peter Taylor stepped down in January in order to concentrate on his managerial role at Crystal Palace.
Italy, coached by former Chelsea forward Pierluigi Casiraghi, have included Derby's on-loan Arsenal striker Arturo Lupoli in their squad as well as Manchester United's Guiseppe Rossi, currently on loan at Parma.
Italy's technical consultant is Gianfranco Zola, who won the FA Cup with Chelsea in 2000, the last time the final was staged at Wembley before refurbishment.
England Under-21 squad to face Italy at Wembley on 24 March:
Alnwick (Tottenham), Camp (Derby), Hart (Manchester City); Baines (Wigan), Cahill (Aston Villa), L Ridgewell (Aston Villa), Hoyte (Arsenal), Rosenior (Fulham); Bentley (Blackburn), Cattermole (Middlesbrough), Huddlestone (Tottenham), Milner (Newcastle), Reo-Coker (West Ham), Richardson (Manchester United), Routledge (Tottenham); Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Derbyshire (Blackburn), Lita (Reading), Young (Aston Villa), Jerome (Birmingham).
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