Fabio Capello is convinced being around the England camp this week will help keep Andy Carroll out of trouble in future. After discussions with Club England managing director Adrian Bevington, Capello was cleared to select Carroll for his squad to face France on Wednesday at Wembley.

Currently on bail after being charged with assaulting a former girlfriend, there are some who do not feel Capello is sending out the right messages by picking the 21-year-old for the first time. Yet on performance alone, Carroll deserves his place, particularly as injury has robbed the England boss of Wayne Rooney, Darren Bent, Bobby Zamora and Jermain Defoe. Capello certainly has no fears for the 21-year-old, who he feels will benefit from the experience he will be surrounded by in Watford this week.

Carroll is a really interesting player. He is good in the air, has good movement without the ball and finds space. Technically he is very good and he is a fighter.
Fabio Capello, England manager

"Everybody makes mistakes when they are young," said Capello. "It is very important for him to be in the seniors because we have a lot of important players, who can stay with him and speak with him about what happens outside the pitch. That is important."

"I haven't spoken to him but I talked to the FA, who have told me I can pick him. I also spoke with Stuart Pearce and he has no problems either. He is only young. He can change," added the England boss.

Carroll is said to have annoyed Pearce by pulling out of an England Under-21 squad in August with an injury the manager wanted to be assessed. The Newcastle striker has shrugged off that problem and a brief dip in form last month. Capello was present at the Emirates Stadium last week when the Gateshead-born player scored the goal that defeated Arsenal, since when he has added a seventh of the season in the home loss to Blackburn.

"Carroll is a really interesting player," said Capello. "He is good in the air, has good movement without the ball and finds space. Technically he is very good and he is a fighter."

Capello had already decided not to pick Rooney even before Manchester United assistant manager Mike Phelan put a block on the move yesterday. The Italian spoke to the striker before he was sent away for a week's conditioning work in the USA, when Rooney informed him that his ankle injury was "really bad".

David Beckham has also been monitored, with Capello suitably impressed by the 35-year-old's recovery from a major Achilles injury. However, the Los Angeles Galaxy's continuing presence in the MLS play-offs ruled out any chance of Beckham being picked. It will be March before the former England skipper can be considered and then he will be in the US close-season when Capello's side tackle Argentina in February. It means more scope for picking youngsters, with Arsenal's Jack Wilshere at the head of that queue following his impressive performances for the Gunners this season.

As Wilshere is also expected to be part of Pearce's squad for the European Under-21 Championships next summer, it looks like being a busy year for the 18-year-old.

However, Capello has already noted a rare quality. "I am looking for something different from a young player so I know he is ready to be with us," said Capello. "Wilshere is really intelligent on the pitch, so I think he can play with the seniors. He needs to understand what really happens when England play at Wembley in front of 90,000 people.

"There is also a new style. Arsenal's is their school style, from the academy, with a lot of touches. He has to find out what he has to do here. In a really short time it is impossible to learn everything but it will be interesting for him to stay with us."