LONDON -- Southampton striker Matthew Le Tissier, Tottenham winger Darren Anderton and Blackburn full-back Graeme Le Saux were handed the keys to long international careers when they were named in new coach Terry Venables's first England squad.


Veteran Peter Beardsley, 33, who won the last of his 49 caps for England in May 1991 was also recalled to the squad Monday -- his reward for an outstanding season at Newcastle.


Venables left out many stalwarts of predecessor Graham Taylor, including goalkeeper Chris Woods, Carlton Palmer, Lee Dixon, Andy Sinton and John Barnes.


The new coach dropped 10 of Taylor's original squad named for his final game, the 7-1 win over San Marino in Bologna last November.


The retention of Nottingham Forest left-back Stuart Pearce was Venables's big surprise -- but Venables would not say if he would retain the captaincy.


The injured Ian Wright is also missing, along with Arsenal team mate Paul Merson. But with the squad cut down to 18, and no standby list, many will hope their England careers have merely been put on hold rather than ended.


Squad: David Seaman, Tim Flowers; Paul Parker, Rob Jones, Stuart Pearce, Graeme Le Saux, Tony Adams, Gary Pallister, Des Walker, Darren Anderton, Paul Gascoigne, Paul Ince, David Batty, David Platt, Matthew Le Tissier, Alan Shearer, Les Ferdinand, Peter Beardsley.


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Tranmere has lodged a protest about referee Allan Gunn who it says cost it a place in the English League Cup final.


Tranmere complained to the Football League on Monday that Gunn should have sent off Aston Villa goalkeeper Mark Bonisch for a professional foul on Irish striker John Aldridge in the first half of their cup semifinal on Sunday.


Instead, Australian Bonich went on to become the Villa hero when he made three crucial saves in a penalty shoot-out to put his side into the final after the two-leg semifinal had ended 4-4 on aggregate.


"Mark Bosnich brought down John Aldridge in a goalscoring situation," said Tranmere secretary Norman Wilson in a letter to the league. "The referee awarded a penalty but did not send off Bosnich when he should have been dismissed."