JASON Wilcox will collect his first England cap in tomorrow's friendly against Hungary at Wembley to crown his remarkable comeback from a career-threatening injury.

The Blackburn Rovers winger got the green light from England coach Terry Venables at lunchtime today and now has a golden opportunity to snatch a place in the European Championship finals next month.

It's a dream come true for Wilcox, whose only other international experience - apart from training with the squad - is a B international against the Republic of Ireland at Anfield.

That came in December 1994, just a few months before he suffered the cruciate knee ligament damage which forced him to miss the title climax and most of last season.

But his determination to fight back has now paid off in a big way.

It was not entirely unexpected, as Venables has also included the winger on next week's trip to the Far East.

Also anticipated was the decision to omit Alan Shearer tomorrow. The subs, one of whom could well be Tim Flowers, have yet to be named.

Shearer may be among them or left until next week's first tour game in China.

The England squad is: D Seaman (Arsenal), G Neville (Man Utd), S Pearce (Nottm Forest), M Wright (Liverpool), D Anderton (Tottenham), R Lee (Newcastle), P Ince (Inter Milan), D Platt (Arsenal), J Wilcox (Blackburn), T Sheringham (Tottenham), L Ferdinand (Newcastle). Subs to be announced.

Meanwhile, Rovers boss Ray Harford aims to cut back on too much tiring travelling as he draws up his pre-season plans.

With so many involved in the international scene, the manager is wary of hauling them off on the usual trek across Scandinavia.

Rovers will go to the South East for a change of scenery for a few days and play two matches against Colchester at Layer Road on Saturday, August 3, and Cambridge United on Monday, August 5.

They have already been booked to visit Deepdale on Monday, August 12, to mark the official opening of Preston's new stand.

Rovers are also considering other games between August 5 and 12 and may yet make a brief trip abroad.

A Rovers youth squad travelled to Rotterdam last night for an international tournament, with the first game against Ajax this afternoon.

The squad is: Beattie, Benson, Brewer, Brown, Cassin, Chisholm, Hope, Johnson, McAvoy, McCallion, McCrone, Staton, Owler, Thomas, Trudgill, Watkins, Williams, Worrell.

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