Southampton forward Rickie Lambert has received a first call-up to Roy Hodgson's England squad for next Wednesday's international friendly against Scotland at Wembley, the Football Association announced on Thursday.

The 31-year-old is joined by Manchester United winger Wilfried Zaha, bidding to earn his second cap following a debut in a friendly against Sweden in November.

Captain Steven Gerrard and Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshire also return while Manchester City pair Joleon Lescott and Jack Rodwell are amongst those to miss out.

There was also a place for unsettled Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney, despite having been out injured for his club's recent pre-season tour of Asia through injury.

Lambert's rise to international recognition has been nothing short of meteoric after a career spent at the likes of Macclesfield Town, Stockport County and Rochdale.

Last season was his first in the Premier League following a career that began at Blackpool in 1998 in the old second division, now called League One, the third tier of English football.

In fact he did not even play in the second tier, the Championship, until winning promotion from League One with Southampton in 2010-11.

He had caught the Saints' attention when banging in the goals for Bristol Rovers in league One, notching 19 in 2008/09 and 29 the next season.

He scored 36 goals in his first season for Southampton and his 21 in the next campaign helped take them up to the Championship.

Another 31 goals pushed the Saints into the top flight and he managed 15 in 38 appearances for a team battling relegation in his first campaign in the Premier League.

But he faces a tough test to earn a place in the starting line-up at Wembley with Rooney, Tottenham's Jermain Defoe, Manchester United's Danny Welbeck and Theo Walcott of Arsenal all in the squad.

Lambert may not even have made the squad had it not been for injuries to Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge and Andy Carroll of West Ham.

Although Rooney has been selected, he is recovering from a shoulder injury and may not achieve full fitness in time as he has missed all of United's pre-season friendlies.

He did play in one practice match, behind closed doors against Real Betis, between hamstring and shoulder problems.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Ben Foster (West Bromwich Albion), Joe Hart (Manchester City, John Ruddy (Norwich City)

Defenders Leighton Baines (Everton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole (Chelsea), Phil Jagielka (Everton), Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Chris Smalling (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Tottenham)

Midfielders: Michael Carrick (Manchester United), Tom Cleverley (Manchester United), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool, capt), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), James Milner (Manchester City), Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Forwards: Jermain Defoe (Tottenham), Rickie Lambert (Southampton), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United), Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Wilfried Zaha (Manchester United)