Manchester City's Joey Barton, Aston Villa's Gareth Barry and Chelsea's Shaun Wright-Phillips are left out after the defeat against Spain.

McClaren's main dilemma will be at left-back, where he will choose between Jamie Carragher and Phil Neville.

Ashley Cole is suspended for the Israel game and Wayne Bridge is injured.

Preston's David Nugent must await the outcome of the weekend's Premiership games before discovering if he will be promoted from the under-21 squad preparing to face Italy at Wembley.

McClaren watched the 21-year-old play against Ipswich in the Championship game on Tuesday.

"I would have no hesitation, through his performances in the Under-21s, to put him in the squad," said McClaren.

England have injury worries over Aaron Lennon, whose knee injury has flared up again, but Rio Ferdinand has recovered from a cracked rib during Manchester United's FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough.

The England boss has been impressed with Nugent, adding: "He's got a lot of goals in the Championship, every season he does that.

I have no hesitation putting Aaron into my squad Steve McClaren on Aaron Lennon

"Internationally you look at the Under-21s and if he can score at that level, and he has done."

The England coach has also backed Tottenham's Aaron Lennon, 19, to handle the pressure of the crucial matches.

"Aaron came into the World Cup squad and excited us from day one," said McClaren.

"He still has a long way to go but he has a lot of potential and we expected to see a lot more of him this season than we actually have because of illness and injuries.

"We need experience in this game but he has been to a World Cup, so I have no hesitation putting him into my squad."

Lennon is expected to start on the left of midfield for the match in Tel Aviv on 24 March, ahead of Kieron Dyer and Stewart Downing.

606: DEBATE Is the leap from the Championship to international football too big for a player to make? Paul Fletcher - BBC Sport

Illness and injury have restricted the Tottenham player to just three substituted appearances since McClaren succeeded Sven-Goran Eriksson last summer.

Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard is set to be named on the right of a four-man midfield which will feature Owen Hargreaves and Frank Lampard in the middle.

McClaren is hoping to select Robinson in goal, with Jamie Carragher at left-back, Gary Neville at right-back and John Terry alongside Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence.

Wayne Rooney is expected to play alongside Andy Johnson in attack if all come through their weekend Premiership fixtures unscathed - with Darren Bent and Jermain Defoe also in line for a call-up.

Meanwhile, if Nugent appeared for England he would be the first Preston player to do so since Sir Tom Finney in 1958.

Liverpool-born Nugent joined North End - currently fourth in the Championship - from Bury for £100,000 in January 2005.

He has been named in the England Under-21 squad to play against Italy at Wembley on 24 March.

Then what's the point in picking him for one game, then never using him again when he has done absolutely nothing wrong in the (small) chance that he had?  This isn't just Barton bias because he's a City player, either, it goes for all the other one cap wonders.  If you have no intention of ever using them when it matters, then don't pick players for a meaningless friendly.  They are either a part of the squad until someone better comes along or they show themselves not to be up to it, or they are not in it at all.  Picking them once then ignoring them afterwards is a waste of time for all concerned and can only be detrimental to the squad as a whole.

With regards to Barton, there are other players available who are better in terms of all round footballing quality, but what Barton has is that 'edge' that many don't. IMO McClown picked him against Spain as a shot across the bows to the players who under performed last summer, but it was a friendly, it didn't mean anything, do you really think he'd have the guts to pick him for a qualifier?

I also feel that the assault charge wouldn't have helped his case.