The former Alex favourite David Platt, now the England U-21 manager, spoke to Dario after the Walsall match about Dean Ashton's fitness and, after Dario gave him the all clear, Platt gave Dean Ashton the call up ironically saying he was impressed with Ashton's work rate.
Ashton could now find himself lining up against Holland U-21s at Hull's KC Stadium. With Jermain Defoe and Ameobi not named in the squad it leaves Ashton as one of the most experienced strikers in the team, along with Carlton Cole, leaving it free for him to claim his first U-21 - hopefully. You can catch the game on Tuesday night, Sky Sports at 7:30pm.
Ashton completes the international call ups, joining Billy Jones who got a England U-19 call up and Steve Jones who got a Northern Ireland call up. David Vaughan missed out on a Wales call up through injury.
The Squad in full;
DARREN AMBROSE, Newcastle United
DEAN ASHTON, Crewe Alexandra
DARREN BENT, Ipswich Town
DAVID BENTLEY, Arsenal
SCOTT CARSON, Leeds United
RICHARD CHAPLOW, Burnley
MICHAEL CHOPRA, Nottingham Forest (loan)
CARLTON COLE, Charlton Athletic (loan)
ANDREW DAVIES, Middlesbrough
STEWART DOWNING, Middlesbrough
LEE GRANT, Derby County
GLEN JOHNSON, Chelsea
JUSTIN HOYTE, Arsenal
NICKY HUNT, Bolton Wanderers
MATT KILGALLON, Leeds United
ANDREW LONERGAN, Preston North End
NIGEL REO-COKER, West Ham United
LIAM RIDGEWELL, Aston Villa
JONATHAN STEAD, Blackburn Rovers
STEVEN TAYLOR, Newcastle United
JOHN WELSH, Liverpool
PETER WHITTINGHAM, Aston Villa