Fabio Capello is set to drop Michael Owen from his starting line-up for the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley.

Capello has not officially settled on his XI and will inform the players of his decision this afternoon, but Owen has been a peripheral figure in training, with the Italian preferring to deploy Wayne Rooney as a lone striker.

David Bentley and Ashley Young will both start for the first time, supporting the Manchester United man from the right and left flanks respectively.

Captain Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole make up a quartet of attacking midfielders with Owen Hargreaves required to play a deep-lying anchor role.

West Ham's Matthew Upson is expected to partner Rio Ferdinand in the centre of defence, beating off competition from Jonathan Woodgate, Joleon Lescott and Micah Richards, while Wes Brown is preferred to Richards at right-back.

Owen was an automatic choice for Steve McClaren and Sven-Goran Eriksson, often coming straight into the side after injury and at times playing more for his country than his club.

With 88 caps to his name, the Newcastle United man is the most experienced player in Capello's squad ahead of Rio Ferdinand on 64. Only David Beckham, famously on 99, has more caps among active players.

Owen's 40 goals make him the fourth-highest scorer in England history behind Jimmy Greaves, Gary Lineker and Bobby Charlton, who holds the record with 49.

Alex Chick / Eurosport